News about Unai Emery

Aston Villa captain John McGinn was spotted on a night out celebrating their qualification into next season's Champions League. Unai Emery's side sealed fourth place thanks to Tottenham's 2-0 defeat to Manchester City earlier this week. It cements the the first time that Villa have qualified for Europe's most prestigious competition since 1983 - the year after they won the European Cup by defeating Bayern Munich. There was wild celebrations on Tuesday when Villa found out they had qualified for the competition in the middle of their end-of-season awards.

Football fans think Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran wants to secure a move to Chelsea in the future after spotting the Colombian's engagement with the Blues on his social media profile. Duran was the recent super-sub in Villa's 3-3 draw against Liverpool after scoring twice during a brief cameo performance to put Unai Emery's side on the verge of qualifying for the Champions League.

Aston Villa midfielder Philippe Coutinho could change his club in the upcoming summer transfer window. The Brazilian player is currently on loan in Qatar, at Al-Duhail SC, which is sixth in the Stars League at the moment. He has been reported to fail to enter in Unai Emery 's plans, after playing just 24 minutes in the Premier League this season. As reported by TNT Sports Brazil, Vasco da Gama are highly interested in loaning Coutinho, with a purchase obligation for between £4m and £6m.

TOM COLLOMOSSE: Unai Emery has made a convincing case to be named Manager of the Year after leading Aston Villa to the group phase of next season's Champions League but the Basque will know the hard work is only just beginning. There will be a celebratory atmosphere at Villa's final game of the season, at Crystal Palace on Sunday, but Emery will already have set his mind to tackling Villa's first campaign in this competition since 1982-83, and their first since it was rebranded the Champions League in 1992. Here Mail Sport looks at the key tasks facing the club this summer.

TOM COLLOMOSSE: Shortly after 5pm on August 12, 2023, the away dressing room at St James' Park was a gloomy place. Aston Villa had just been thrashed 5-1 by Newcastle and in the previous 24 hours, they had lost Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia to season-ending injuries. Unai Emery was faced with one of the most important team talks of his Villa Park reign and, as has generally been the case since he joined the club, the Basque nailed it. 'Don't worry,' was his general message. 'We played well. We gave away bad goals but we keep playing like that. We stay calm.'

This is the moment that Aston Villa secured Champions League football for the first time ever after Tottenham's defeat by Man City (right) confirmed their fourth-place finish - with the result sparking wild scenes of celebration and joy. As the full-time whistle blew at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Villa's suited-and-booted players and staff rejoiced following what is a monumental achievement. But not everyone was in the party mood at the club's end-of-season awards dinner. As the champagne flowed and hugs were being shared, Ollie Watkins (circled) appeared to look glum as he sat in his seat while Unai Emery (main picture, right) and Co threw their hands into the air in sheer delight.

Football fans have heaped praise on legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson after his early-season prediction about Aston Villa and Unai Emery. Wild celebrations got underway in the Midlands at Villa's end of season awards dinner on Tuesday as the after sealing their place amongst Europe's elite for the first time in the club's history.

Prince William has hailed Aston Villa for qualifying to play Champions League football next season, praising their 'historic season' and 'amazing achievement'. The Prince of Wales is a lifelong fan of the Premier League team and has watched several matches this season, sometimes also taking along his son Prince George. And William was delighted last night as the Birmingham-based team confirmed their spot in Europe's top competition next season after Tottenham Hotspur's defeat to Manchester City ended Spurs' challenge for fourth place in the Premier League. Villa missed out on this season's Europa Conference League final after a 6-2 aggregate loss to Olympiacos in their semi-final - with William present for the first leg at Villa Park - but will have the chance to mix it at Europe's top table next term. Posting on his Kensington Royal X account, William wrote: 'We are Champions League! A historic season and an amazing achievement. Thanks to Unai, the whole squad and everyone at @AVFCOfficial. Can't wait for next season. #UTV! W.'

Aston Villa players led wild celebrations at the club's end-of-season awards dinner after Tottenham's defeat against Man City confirmed Unai Emery's side's place in the Champions League. The whole Villa squad and support staff were present at the event, with chaos erupting inside the venue as the full-time whistle blew at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

Tottenham Hotspur are 10/1 outsiders with Sky Bet to finish top four in the Premier League this season. If they are to do so, they must win tonight's fixture against Man City at home. Meanwhile, Aston Villa shortened even further to 1/25 after securing a crucial point against Liverpool overnight. Down 3-1 with five minutes remaining, a late brace to Jhon Duran saw Unai Emery's side pull off a hard-fought draw.

Leon Bailey had to be held back from Aston Villa team-mate Ollie Watkins during Monday's draw with Liverpool.  Unai Emery's men took a step closer to Champions League football next season as two late goals saw them draw 3-3 at Villa Park.  Liverpool raced into a 3-1 lead early in the second half after a superb header by Jarell Quansah for his first Premier League goal. 

TOM COLLOMOSSE AT VILLA PARK: With Tom Hanks in the crowd, Aston Villa delivered a Hollywood ending that might just be enough to send them into the Champions League next season. Needing a win to seal a top-four finish, Villa trailed 3-1 with five minutes left before substitute Jhon Duran scored twice in three minutes to earn a point. Remarkably, Duran and boss Unai Emery were berating one another throughout his cameo, though both were smiling at full-time. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will hope for a calmer final game as Liverpool manager when he waves goodbye against Wolves on Sunday.

Follow Mail Sport's live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Liverpool travel to Villa Park to take on Aston Villa in Premier League action.

TOM COLLOMOSSE: A victory over Liverpool on Monday night would be enough to guarantee Aston Villa a top-four finish and a place amongst Europe's elite in the Champions League next season. Villa were without eight first-team players due to injury as they were beaten by Olympiacos last week in the Europa Conference League semi-finals and Emery's men are limping towards the finishing line, having lost their last three matches.

Since Mikel Arteta was appointed as Unai Emery's successor in December of 2019, he has made significant changes to Arsenal. The Spaniard has transformed the club bringing in 29 players to the Emirates since his time in charge and has also let a few big names walk out the door. This summer it is expected that Arteta and Arsenal are open to allowing even more players to depart the club.

Erik ten Hag bemoaned Manchester United 's torrid injury record this season ahead of their 4-0 defeat by Crystal Palace when the Dutchman was forced to field another makeshift backline. Pinning United's poor season on absences may prove to be an effective tactic to shield the Dutchman from the scrutiny headed his way this summer. But how tough have the Old Trafford outfit had it on the injury front compared to their rivals? Mail Sport takes a look at the Premier League injury table.

Kylian Mbappe has confirmed that this will be his final season at PSG after seven years at the club. The 25-year-old made the announcement in a post on social media on Friday and confirmed his final game at the Parc des Princes will come when they play host to Toulouse on Sunday. Mbappe has long been linked with a move away from the French capital, and is expected to complete a long-awaited deal to join Real Madrid when his contract expires at the end of the season. 

OLYMPIACOS 2-0 ASTON VILLA (agg 6-2) - TOM COLLOMOSSE AT GEORGIOS KARAISKAKIS STADIUM: All week Aston Villa had been urging supporters to keep the faith with a catchy hashtag but in the end, they came face to face with cold reality. There will be no chance to emulate the European Cup winning heroes of 1982, after Ayoub El Kaabi's double took Olympiacos to the Final of the Europa Conference League. Not many teams can recover from a two-goal deficit away from home in Europe, no matter how much they might #Believe. Olympiacos will face Fiorentina in this city later this month and Aston Villa must now turn their attention to securing a spot in next season's Champions League. That would be richly deserved reward for an outstanding campaign, in which Unai Emery's men have dealt superbly with injuries to key players.

Follow Mail Sport's live blog of Olympiacos vs Aston Villa in the Europa Conference League for all the build-up, team news and live action as Unai Emery's side need to overturn a two goal first leg deficit in the semi-finals. Olympiacos currently lead the tie 4-2 and will host Villa at the Georgios Karaiskakis Football Stadium evening.

Aston Villa disappointed in their opening Europa Conference League semi-final against Olympiacos last week - going down 4-2 at home. As a result - Unai Emery's side have it all to do in Greece tonight as they look to overturn a two-goal deficit and secure their maiden Europa Conference League final appearance. They aren't tipped to do so when looking at Sky Bet's betting lines, as Villa are 7/2 outsiders to win the tie, while Olympiacos are odds-on favourites at 1/6.

Emiliano Martinez will hold talks with Unai Emery and the club's medical team on Thursday as he strives to help Aston Villa's bid to reach the Europa Conference League Final. The Argentina goalkeeper has travelled to Athens for the second leg of the semi-final against Olympiacos, with Villa 4-2 down from the first leg, despite missing the last two-and-a-half games with a hamstring problem. Though Emery declared his faith in Martinez's deputy Robin Olsen, Martinez is arguably Villa's most important player and they are not the same without him.

If Aston Villa are serious about rejoining the elite of European football then they must show they can deliver on nights like these. To keep alive their dream of lifting a first major trophy since 1996, on Thursday Unai Emery's men must overturn a two-goal deficit at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium - the home of Olympiacos and one of the most intimidating venues in European football. Only 1,600 Villa supporters will be there to cheer on their team among a capacity crowd of about 33,000 and their noise will be largely drowned out. Every Villa touch will be whistled, their every pass jeered. If Olympiacos supporters learn the location of Villa's hotel, the squad may be in for a disturbed night's sleep.

TOM PRENTKI AT THE AMEX STADIUM: This has been the most damaging week of Aston Villa's season. A shock home defeat to Olympiakos followed by a tired defeat at Brighton has put their league and European ambitions in severe jeopardy. Joao Pedro's late goal was the difference in the scoreline but the difference in performances was stark with Roberto De Zerbi's side fully deserving of victory. The goal, scored on the rebound after the excellent Robin Olsen had saved the initial effort, was the first Brighton have scored since Danny Welbeck's strike at Anfield on March 31st.

Aston Villa will be hoping they can turn things around in the space of just a few days when they take on Brighton away from home today. Villa were disappointing in their Europa Conference League semi-final first leg on Thursday - losing 4-2 to Greek club Olympiacos.   Despite their poor showing, Unai Emery's side enter today's fixture against the Seagulls as a 7/5 favourite according to Sky Bet, while their opponents are 13/8 outsiders.