Unai Emery has expressed satisfaction with Aston Villa’s performance after their impressive 4-2 win over Liverpool in the Premier League on Friday night.
Villa booked a spot in the UEFA Champions League for next season with the victory, moving above the Reds into fourth spot on the standings.
It also marked a return to the competition, after missing our on the current campaign when they finished outside of the top five last season.
Speaking after the match, Emery was pleased with his side’s display, as they geared up for their Europa League final match in midweek with a stunning display.
“Fantastic. The match was very important for us because the priority was the Premier League and to get our first objective: to be in the Champions League and to be fourth now”, Emery said.
“It was a tough match in the first half but in the second half we did a fantastic job. Very grateful for the support and the atmosphere the fans are creating.
“We are in the Champions League and this is something amazing. Four years here and four years in Europe. One in Conference, two in the Champions League and one in Europa League. And we are in a final.”
Liverpool started off strongly and had several attempts to take the lead, but it was Morgan Rogers who broke the deadlock for the home side few minutes before the break.
Virgil Van Dijk equalized for Liverpool in the second half, before teenager Rio Ngumoha struck the post with an effort.
Then Ollie Watkins scored twice to put Villa back in front and John McGinn added a fourth.
Van Dijk headed home his second of the night in stoppage-time, with Villa running away on a 4-2 result on the night to book their UCL spot.
“To compete in both competitions, being consistent is not easy and we struggled with this, but all year we did a fantastic job in the Premier League. I am so proud”, Emery added.
Up next for Aston Villa is the Europa League final against German side Freiburg in Istanbul on Wednesday night, as they look to win their first piece of silverware since 1996.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
