Aston Villa

David Michael
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa will play Champions League football again next season, regardless of what happens in Istanbul on Wednesday.

While the club's accounts department will welcome the Uefa prize money - which offers meaningful relief against the financial constraints that have shaped recent transfer windows - for supporters, the calculation is now entirely different.

Supporter discourse has been colonised by talk of PSR thresholds, Uefa wage-to-income ratios and amortisation. Conversations that belong in boardrooms have become the wallpaper of fan media, forums and social timelines.

Now, supporters can focus on what is really important as a football supporter.

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Speaking in January 2024, Emiliano Martinez repeated what he had said when he first signed for the club: "We want to give fans a cup run, we want to give them the trophy, we want to give them Champions League football." Villa have delivered on most of it. Three deep European runs. Champions League football, with more to come next season.

The Europa League final against Freiburg will hopefully provide the missing link.

Thirty years have passed since Villa last lifted a trophy. The attempts at silverware since have been disappointing, summed up by the fact that Villa have only scored one goal from open play in four domestic finals since - a consolation by the largely forgotten Mbwana Samatta in the 2020 League Cup final against Manchester City.

For players like John McGinn, Ollie Watkins and Tyrone Mings, who have carried Villa through its best years in a generation, the final in Istanbul is a chance to crown their Villa careers.

Freiburg will be without Yuito Suzuki, their influential Japanese attacking midfielder who suffered a broken collarbone earlier this month. The loss of a player central to their European run should make the Germans more predictable and potentially less dangerous in open play.

Of course, with Unai Emery - who seeks an unprecedented fifth Europa League title - at the helm, you can't help but repeat the words of the late Ron Saunders, who built the last Villa team that achieved European glory: "Do you want to bet against us?"

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Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Nigel Spink believes it is time Aston Villa's European Cup is "moved along the shelf" to make room for more silverware.

Villa face Freiburg in the Europa League final in Istanbul on Wednesday, aiming to win their first major European trophy since 1982.

Goalkeeper Spink was an early substitute in the final, replacing the injured Jimmy Rimmer, when Villa beat Bayern Munich 1-0 in Rotterdam to win the European Cup.

Villa have not won a major trophy for 30 years - the 1996 League Cup being their most recent success - and Spink wants the wait to be over.

"I felt like it was time for the European Cup to be moved along the shelf a little bit to make room for another European trophy and I'm so pleased we've got an opportunity to do that," he told BBC Sport.

"I know we're one step away still but if we do beat Freiburg then there'll be nobody more pleased than me to see that another crop of players having achieved European glory for the mighty club."

Spink's European Cup appearance was just his second-ever game for Villa and he went onto play 460 times for the club, also winning the 1994 League Cup.

He remained with Villa as they were relegated to the Second Division in 1987, just five years after being crowned kings of Europe.

"We got to a point, as a club, where we competed at the same level as the likes of Liverpool but it didn't step on. It wasn't embraced I feel, for whatever reason.

"The squad that played in 1981-82 should have been a larger part of the workforce, either playing or coaching at Villa.

"It [the European victory] should have been embraced more at boardroom level.

"We know it goes in cycles, that's the way it is, but you've got to make the effort to keep it there and we just totally declined as a club. We went through hell really for five years after coming out of the European Cup the following year against Juventus.

"Then we beat Barcelona in the Super Cup [in 1983] but after that period there was a definite decline of standards on the pitch on a Saturday afternoon. As a player having done what you did, you don't have control over what the ownership do."

Image source, PA Media

Wednesday's Europa League final "really feels like the last chance for this Villa squad" to win silverware, says BBC Sport football reporter Nick Mashiter.

Villa's impressive 4-2 Premier League victory over Liverpool on Friday secured their return to the Champions League with a game to spare, meaning boss Unai Emery can turn his full attention to winning his fifth Europa League title.

In the latest episode of the BBC's More Than The Score podcast, exploring Emery's career and what makes him tick, Mashiter said: "The pressure is off to a certain extent. Unai Emery had been always adamant that the league was the priority and qualification for the Champions League through the league was the priority. They've done that now and that is guaranteed.

"Emery is incredibly driven and meticulous. It's not just the Europa League, he's taken over Aston Villa when they were three points off the relegation zone under Steven Gerrard and in three and a half years he has built them steadily into a team that is consistent, qualified for Europe and is now in a major European final for the first time since 1982.

"Villa haven't won a trophy for 30 years, so he's transformed the entire club into one that consistently challenges for European spots and silverware as well.

"They have been to two semi-finals previously and lost them both, so winning the semi-final against Nottingham Forest was a massive hurdle as well.

"Villa need to get over the line because it really feels like the last chance for this team and this squad to really make a mark and win something before there is an expectant change to the squad.

"You're probably looking at a number of players going in the summer and this is going to be the last chance for them in Istanbul."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Aston Villa midfielder Emi Buendia says playing in the Europa League final is "like a dream" and he will "fight to the end to get the victory".

Villa are hoping to win their first major trophy in 30 years when they take on German side Freiburg on Wednesday.

Speaking to BBC Radio West Midlands, Buendia said: "Everyone as a kid, firstly when you dream to become a footballer, then to play these kinds of matches is special, so we know we are here to have the possibility to make history with this club because it has not made a final in many years.

"We work so hard during the season to be here in this position to play these matches, so now we have to prepare well and enjoy as well because I think we deserve this and then fight until the end to get the victory and make our fans very happy.

"To be here now and having these chances is like a dream. I fought a lot to be in this position. I want to enjoy, and I will work hard to bring this trophy back here."

Listen to the full interview above or on BBC Sounds

You can find more Villa audio content here

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Have you made the trip to see if Aston Villa can win their first European trophy for 44 years? We want your tales and pics from your travels and to hear about how you're soaking up the atmosphere.

And if you're not lucky enough to be in Istanbul, we still want to know where you're watching from and how you're preparing for the showdown against Freiburg.

Get in touch with your images and views here

On Wednesday night, Aston Villa have the chance to end a 30-year major trophy drought by winning the Europa League final against Freiburg in Istanbul.

If more motivation was needed, they can win major European silverware for the first time since 1982.

This is the first ever meeting between Freiburg and Villa, but Unai Emery's side have reason for optimism against German opponents after defeating both Bundesliga sides they faced in last season's Champions League - Bayern Munich (1-0) and RB Leipzig (3-2).

This is the 11th major European final between an English club and German team, and first since the 2012 Champions League final between Chelsea and Bayern Munich.

English teams have won eight of the previous 10, with the only German victories via Borussia Dortmund vs Liverpool in the 1965-66 Cup Winners' Cup and Bayern Munich vs Leeds in the 1974-75 European Cup.

Aston Villa are featuring in just their second major European final, last winning 1-0 against Bayern Munich in the 1982 European Cup final.

Only Manchester City have ever had a longer gap between their first two finals (1970 – 2021), but under Europa League specialist Unai Emery Villa have been building to this moment.

Since the start of 2023-24, no side has won more matches in major European competition than Villa (26) and only Arsenal (19) have kept more clean sheets in that time (16).

Emery has managed in five previous major European finals, all in the Europa League, winning four times with Sevilla, once with Villarreal and losing once with Arsenal in 2018-19.

With this his sixth, he goes level with Carlo Ancelotti, Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho for major finals and sits behind only Giovanni Trapattoni on seven. A win would see him go level with Trapattoni, Ancelotti and Mourinho for major European final wins (5).

Everton and Aston Villa are interested in Newcastle's 22-year-old Denmark forward William Osula. (The I, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings has said "there is a real excitement" around the club before Wednesday's Europa League final against Freiburg.

The 33-year-old, who has been with the club since their promotion season back to the Premier League in 2019, is looking forward to the prospect of bringing home a first European trophy in 44 years for the supporters.

"It's an amazing moment and for the fans mainly," Mings told BBC Radio WM. "Of course we are excited, but in recent years, the fans have seen other clubs winning trophies and had a slight jealousy that we haven't been able to do that with the team that we've got.

"We've not been able to get over the line and bring a trophy back so I think there is a real excitement for that.

"The manager speaks a lot about how privileged we are to be able to feel that pressure as well. It's a positive thing because the alternative is a low-pressure environment and not competing for these things.

"And as a player who has been here for a long time, it probably means that little bit more.

"The manager is somewhat of a European genius and he always reiterates that the Premier League is the most important thing because it increases the revenues to compete with the financial restrictions put in place. But he still delivers these amazing European runs whilst focusing on the Premier League as much as we can.

"Finding that balance as a squad is something he should take massive credit for.

"In recent years, it has been a special time to be a Villa fan. There's a lot of history around the club and we are trying to add to that."

Hit play below to hear more from Mings, or listen here on BBC Sounds

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa have confirmed their return to the Champions League.

The focus is now on Wednesday's Europa League final against Freiburg in Istanbul, but, while Villa have been in the Champions League spots since November, they remain the Premier League's overperformers.

According to Opta's expected table, Emery's side should sit 12th.

Eight places - and 15 points - better off than their expected position, they are the highest overperforming team in the Premier League.

Sunderland and Everton are the only other sides overperforming by more than two places.

Villa's 54 goals rank seventh in the league, below 10th-place Chelsea (55), while their 471 shots is just ninth highest - also lower than any of the top six and Chelsea.

Their number of shots on target ranks eighth, behind the rest of the top six, Brighton and Newcastle United - but their shot conversion rate of 11% is bettered by only Brentford (14%), Manchester City (13%) and Arsenal (13%).

Only Tottenham (+8.33) have overperformed their expected goals (xG) more than Villa, while five clubs have defied their xG more at the back.

Villa have also balanced their league campaign with the Europa League, reaching their first major European final since winning the European Cup in 1982.

As they overperform on the pitch, it would be ignorant not to look at the restrictions Emery has been working under.

Villa have been operating with the handbrake on, but Champions League qualification, for the second time in three years, should allow that to be lifted.

Read more here

Unai Emery led Sevilla to three Europa League titles in a row between 2014 and 2016, before winning it again with Villarreal in 2021. So why is he so successful in European football's second-tier competition?

As the Spaniard prepares to lead a side in a sixth Europa League final - Emery lost one to Chelsea while in charge at Arsenal - Delyth Lloyd is joined by BBC Sport's Nick Mashiter and German football broadcaster Constantin Eckner to find out what makes Emery tick and a little bit more about the team standing in his way on Wednesday, Freiburg.

Hit play below to listen to the full episode of More Than The Score, or here on BBC Sounds

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Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Chelsea have an interest in Aston Villa attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers but Arsenal, Manchester United and Paris St-Germain are also looking at the 23-year-old England international. (Talksport), external

Barcelona, who are reluctant to pay the 30m euros to turn Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford's loan move into a permanent deal, are aware Villa are keen on the 28-year-old England international. (Mundo Deportivo - in Spanish), external

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Pundits Dion Dublin and Mark Schwarzer join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Friday's and Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Leeds 1-0 Burnley

• Brentford 2-2 Crystal Palace

• Newcastle 3-1 West Ham

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Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins says he will watch footage of Peter Withe's famous winner in the 1982 European Cup final to help inspire him before their own Europa League final against Freiburg on Wednesday.

It has been 30 years since Villa last won a major trophy, the 1996 League Cup, and Withe's winner in 1982 was Villa's last success in Europe.

Watkins says he will be analysing that piece of club history before he takes to Besiktas Park in Istanbul on Wednesday evening.

Speaking after beating Liverpool 4-2, Watkins said: "I think Peter Withe is a legend. He came in (to Bodymoor Heath). I've met him quite a few times. He came into the training ground last week to watch.

"It's amazing that he can do that and that we can have a legend around the place."

Watkins helped his side secure Champions League football for next season after scoring a brace against Liverpool on Friday but he can now turn his full attention to lifting silverware that has long eluded the club.

"For the last couple of league games it's been hard to focus because we've had such highs (in the Europa League) and we're getting further and further into the competition," he said.

"It's been hard to focus on our Premier League form. So now we've done what we set out to do. We've achieved Champions League football and now we're going do all we can to win on Wednesday.

"We were meant to do it in that fashion (against Liverpool) and for it to be in the last home game as well makes it even more special I think."

We asked for your thoughts after Friday's Premier League game between Aston Villa and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Aston Villa fans

Nick: Superb - really wasn't expecting that high-energy performance. They can now go to Istanbul without the added pressure of Champions League qualification doubts.

Richard: I am in dreamland. To think where Villa were a few seasons ago, then compare it to now, unbelievable. Another great team performance. Watkins has found form at the right time. If Villa can replicate that performance on Wednesday night, what a season we will have had. Only niggle, why wasn't Emery considered for Premier League Manager of the Season?

Leigh: A superb result, the team played well and collectively. This is the Villa we know, big game, big performance. In Emery we trust.

Prit: Another magnificent half by Villa. When we play front-foot football, we are unplayable. I loved the way we moved the ball quickly up the pitch and great vision by Martinez for playing the ball long to find Watkins on numerous occasions. Some really great goals with Watkins and Rogers finding their mojo, but what a final goal by captain fantastic, Super John McGinn. In truth, we could have beaten Liverpool by six or seven and just a real shame that Buendia couldn't get the goal he deserved. So, Champions League football sorted, all we need to do is play a focused game of football in Istanbul to cap off the season. Well done Unai and well done Villa!

Liverpool fans

Dax: This season Slot has made great players look ordinary. Salah, Van Dijk, Gravenberch are all shadows of their previous seasons and the players he's brought in are nothing like their price tag suggests. They did not become bad players overnight. You've only got to look at the performances for their country to see that the problem is Slot. However, it's interesting to note that when our players are having to stretch out, run faster or make up for stray passes (which is happening a lot) to see where our injuries are coming from. We are chasing every game and as a result very few of our players are playing to their potential.

Christian: The credit Slot had in the bank from winning the league last season just isn't enough to forgive the utter dross us fans are having to endure. Even with the extensive injury list, there should still be signs of improvement from the training ground. If anything, we're easier to beat now than at any point this season. We must have a change in the summer. I'm sorry to say - the players clearly do not believe in Slot's philosophy.

Fuzzy: It's clear and obvious Slot has lost the plot as well as the players. There is no clear system, no tactical nous, it's a 'hope for the best' situation in every game, followed by the same old weak excuses. FSG need to seriously reconsider their intention to keep Slot on for next season. Get Xabi in now!

Nathan: Shocking, just absolutely shocking! This is the first time I'm ever going to say as a Liverpool fan that I can't wait for next Sunday and this dreadful season to be over! How Slot is still in a job is mind-blowing considering we've lost the same amount of games as the team sat in 14th in the table! Virgil van Dijk and Rio Ngumoha are the only two I could say were actually trying for us, the rest of the team is absolutely woeful. If Slot is still in at the start of next season, we are doomed and set for another season of boring, predictable football.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery says his side's form earlier this season had him "worried" but they reacted "fantastically" to turn things around and secure Champions League football.

Villa's impressive 4-2 victory over Liverpool saw them secure their return to Europe's elite competition with a game to spare in a performance that Emery called "absolutely brilliant".

You can listen to Emery's reaction above or find more audio on Villa here

Jess Anderson
BBC Sport journalist

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Ollie Watkins has scored 12 Premier League goals this season - not his greatest yield in a Aston Villa shirt - but nine of those have come since he was left out of the March international camp.

Across all competitions, that number goes up to 11 - Harry Kane has scored 10 in the same period - with his form extending to Villa's run to the Europa League final.

His omission from that England squad has lit a fire in Watkins that perhaps would not have been there had he been included.

"I had a slow start to the season, picking up a few niggles on international duty and then being left out of the England squad," he said.

"I think it gave me that fire in my belly to come back and prove to people what I can do. A lot of people had written me off this season and I use that as motivation to show them that I can be back to my best - scoring and helping the team."

Against Liverpool, he was unplayable at times as he continuously took advantage of their high line and found the space to run in behind.

The icing on the cake for Watkins would be a performance like this one against against Freiburg in Istanbul on Wednesday, where Villa will look to win their first major trophy in 30 years.

Since the last international break, no player has scored more Premier League goals than Watkins' nine.

Manchester City's Erling Haaland is second on that list with seven, while Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White is the next best English player on five.

But, while Watkins may well be arguably England's most in-form striker heading into the World Cup, realistically the spot everyone is vying for is the number one back-up position to captain Kane.

Ivan Toney has been in prolific form all season for Al-Ahli but playing in the Saudi Pro League means his numbers are difficult to directly compare with the other contenders.

Of the rest, Watkins' 19 goals in all competitions puts him five ahead of both Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who returned to the England fold after a five-year exile in March, and Danny Welbeck, whose last cap was in 2018.

"He's got to be on the plane," former Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie said on Sky Sports when asked about Watkins' chances of being included this summer. "Since being left out we've just seen a massive turning of the corner.

"He's been relentless in front of goal, he's shown his capabilities. He's a totally different player to Harry Kane and gives them something different."