Aston Villa captain John McGinn has warned his teammates that they must prove they are not the 'nearly men' when they face Freiburg in the Europa League final in Istanbul on 20 May. Villa secured a resounding 4-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the semi-final second leg, with McGinn scoring twice, to book their first European final since 1982.
Dominant Display
Goals from Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Buendia, the latter from the penalty spot, had already put Villa in control before McGinn's late brace sealed the win. The performance drew praise from McGinn, who described it as 'one of the best I've seen from a Villa team for a long time'. Prince William, a Villa fan, attended the match and joined the players in the dressing room afterwards.
Shaking Off the Tag
This was Villa's third semi-final in three seasons, having lost in the Europa Conference League semi-finals in 2023-24 and the FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace last season. McGinn acknowledged the pressure: 'We didn't want to leave these games with regrets. The margins are slim. If we lost, we'd be the nearly men. When we go to Istanbul, we need to make sure we're not.'
Emery's Pedigree
Manager Unai Emery has a remarkable record in this competition, winning it four times – three in a row with Sevilla (2013-2016) and once with Villarreal (2021). He also reached the final with Arsenal in 2019. Watkins praised Emery's experience: 'There is no better manager to prepare us. His track record speaks for itself. We need to go and win it now.'
Forest's Injury Woes
Nottingham Forest head coach Vitor Pereira pointed to his side's lengthy injury list as a key factor. Morgan Gibbs-White was among the substitutes but never intended to play. 'We had three injured players, three academy boys, and Murillo would have been a risk. To compete, we needed everyone fit,' Pereira said.
Champions League Implications
The result also boosted the Champions League hopes of Bournemouth, Brentford, and Brighton. If Villa win the Europa League and finish fifth in the Premier League, the sixth-placed team will qualify for the Champions League. Bournemouth currently occupy that spot.
