Ollie Watkins hails Unai Emery for leading Aston Villa into Europa League final | OneFootball

Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins paid tribute to manager Unai Emery after guiding his side into another Europa League final with a resounding win over Nottingham Forest.

Villa came into the second leg trailing to Chris Wood’s penalty last week, but a first-half goal from Watkins, Emiliano Buendia’s penalty and then John McGinn’s quickfire double turned the tie around to secure a 4-1 aggregate win.

Bundesliga outfit Freiburg now stand between Villa and their first major trophy in 30 years, but Watkins feels Emery can again prove the difference.

“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 on TNT Sports.

“We are in a great position, but we need to go there and win now.”

Waktins praised the collective effort of the Villa team, who had come up short in their last Premier League match.

“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 captain McGinn had urged his team to seize what might have proven to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“I am normally quite calm before the game, but the pressure today was intense,” the Scotland midfielder said.

“I was nervous going into the game and tonight was one of the best performances from Villa I’ve seen in a long time.”

McGinn added: “What I said to the lads was they might not get another chance to play in a European semi-final as they don’t come along too often.

“When you get to 31, it might be the last chance to get to a European final.”

Forest boss Vitor Pereira accepted his side had just come up short, with key midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White having to sit on the bench because of a facial injury.

“To compete in a semi-final, against this kind of team like Aston Villa, you need everyone in the conditions to compete,” he said.

“We had three players on the bench because the other ones, they went on the bench, but were injured…so this is very short to come here without solutions.

“Today it was not possible, which is a pity, but I am proud of my players because they tried everything.”