‘Mr Europa League’ Unai Emery into yet another final
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Aston Villa manager Unai Emery shouting out instructions to his players during their 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final at Villa Park on May 7.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – Four-time Europa League winner Unai Emery was full of pride after booking an astonishing sixth final spot in the competition as a manager on May 7, when his Aston Villa team swept aside Nottingham Forest in the second leg of their all-English semi-final.
The 54-year-old Spaniard has won the title decider three times with Sevilla (2014, 2015, 2016) and once with Villarreal (2021) – and finished as runner-up with Arsenal (2019) – deservedly earning him the epithet “Mr Europa League” from some fans and the media.
Now he enters the 2026 final seeking a fifth title, with Bundesliga side Freiburg standing in the way of his Villa side.
“There’s no better manager than this to get us prepared for this game and obviously take us into the final as well,” said striker Ollie Watkins, whose head was bandaged for most of the game after an early clash with Forest’s Morato.
“His track record speaks for itself. We’re in a great position. We need to go there and win now.”
Emery was delighted with how his team overturned a 1-0 deficit to Forest in the first leg of the semi-final by scoring four times at home to win 4-1 on aggregate.
Watkins grabbed the first-half opener when he tapped in after brilliant footwork from Emiliano Buendia, who got Villa’s second 13 minutes after the interval with a penalty, before captain John McGinn netted a double.
“Now we have to look to the final,” Emery said, hoping that they will do “something fantastic” for their fans.
“It was a special day, the supporters understood it and created an amazing atmosphere.
“I’m so, so proud of how we played the match. We can feel proud of how we achieved it, and now enjoy it – enjoy the process, enjoy the final, enjoy preparing the game, respecting the competition, respecting the final.”
Though thrilled at the win, Emery left the pitch quickly after the final whistle, pumping his fist a few times at the crowd before letting his players enjoy the moment with fans.
He and his Villa side will be favourites in the final in Istanbul on May 20, but Emery is taking nothing for granted.
“Of course German teams are so difficult, their coaches, their players are so good,” Emery added of their opponents, who edged past Portuguese side Braga 4-3 on aggregate in the other semi-final.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace soared into their first European final on the same day, completing an emphatic 5-2 aggregate win over Shakhtar Donetsk to give manager Oliver Glasner the chance of a fairy-tale end to his golden reign.
The Eagles claimed a 2-1 victory over the exiled Ukrainian team in the second leg of their Conference League semi-final at Selhurst Park, thanks to an own goal from Pedrinho and an Ismaila Sarr strike. Eguinaldo netted for Shakhtar.
Glasner’s men will face La Liga side Rayo Vallecano, who beat French club Strasbourg 2-0 on aggregate, in the final in Leipzig on May 27.
“We always talked before, this is why when we were little boys we always wanted to become professional football players, and (I) told the players this is the reward we get, and this is the reward you can’t buy,” the Austrian told TNT Sports.
“I said this after the FA Cup final (in 2025). Now we’re playing the next final together, so it’s amazing what this group of players are doing for Crystal Palace.” REUTERS, AFP
