Ollie Watkins has praised Unai Emery after Aston Villa powered their way into the Europa League final with a dominant comeback victory over Nottingham Forest.
Villa entered the second leg trailing after Chris Wood’s penalty handed Forest the advantage in the opening encounter.
However, Emery’s men responded in style at Villa Park as Watkins opened the scoring before Emiliano Buendia converted from the spot and John McGinn struck twice to complete a stunning 4-1 aggregate triumph.
Consequently, Villa are now just one step away from ending a 30-year wait for major silverware, with German side Freiburg standing between them and European glory.
Watkins believes Emery’s experience on the continental stage could once again prove decisive when the final arrives.
“There is no better manager to get us prepared for this game and obviously take us into the final as well. His track record speaks for itself,” Watkins said.
“We are in a great position, but we need to go there and win now.”
Meanwhile, the England international also applauded the collective spirit within the Villa squad after they bounced back strongly from disappointment in their previous Premier League outing against Tottenham.
“After the performance against Tottenham, everyone’s mind was on this game,” the England forward said.
“Everyone worked so hard. It is hard to pick a man of the match – we were all amazing.”
Villa’s impressive display highlighted both their attacking quality and tactical discipline, with Emery once again steering the club through a high-pressure European night.
Now, with momentum firmly behind them, Aston Villa will head into the final believing they can complete a remarkable campaign by lifting the Europa League trophy.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
