Unai Emery Celebrates Aston Villa's 'Fantastic' Europa League First-Leg Triumph
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has hailed his team's "fantastic" result in their Europa League quarter-final first leg against Bologna, despite acknowledging a less-than-perfect performance. The English side emerged with a 3-1 victory in Italy, giving them a significant advantage heading into the return fixture at Villa Park next week.
Villa Weather Early Storm to Take Control
The match began with Bologna applying intense pressure, creating numerous chances in the first half. The Italian team had a goal disallowed for offside from Santiago Castro and saw Lewis Ferguson strike the crossbar. However, Villa stood firm defensively and broke the deadlock just before halftime when Ezri Konsa headed home to give the visitors a crucial lead.
Emery admitted his side were "not good enough" in the opening period, describing them as "a little bit shy" and noting that the result was better than their actual play. He told TNT Sports: "Happy but getting balance in everything we played the first leg it is a fantastic result. How we did in 90 minutes more or less I can feel good for something but not good for another way."
Watkins' Brace Seals Vital Victory
After the break, Villa improved markedly, with Ollie Watkins doubling their lead early in the second half. Bologna fought back, with Jonathan Rowe scoring late to make it 2-1 and threaten a comeback. But Watkins struck again in stoppage time, restoring Villa's two-goal cushion and taking his season tally to 12 goals across all competitions.
Watkins acknowledged Villa's fortune in the first half, stating: "We got lucky, at half time I said to the boys we got lucky and need to wake up. They had a disallowed goal and if that turned and stayed 1-0 it would have been a long way back." He added that the late goal "takes the sting out of the game" and gives Villa confidence for the second leg.
Emery's Cautious Outlook Ahead of Second Leg
Despite the commanding win, Emery remains wary of Bologna's threat in the return match. He praised the Italian side's competitive spirit, saying: "I know they are dangerous because how they are competing is fantastic. The second leg they are going to try there to suppress us." His message to the team is to respect the opposition while preparing a new tactical plan for the home fixture.
Statistically, Bologna dominated possession and had 19 shots throughout the game, highlighting Villa's resilient defensive effort. This result puts Villa in a strong position to reach their second European semi-final in three years, building on their recent continental successes.
Watkins expressed excitement for the final stages of the season, remarking: "Back end of the season we are raring to go, I could play another 90 minutes now. I'm excited for the last few games. Next week against these as well, I'm hungry." With a 3-1 aggregate lead, Villa will aim to finish the job at Villa Park and advance in the competition.
