Aston Villa

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Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins says he has "gone up another level" in his time working under Unai Emery and has praised the impact of the "unbelievable" Spainard.

In this week's edition of the Football Interview, Kelly Somers spoke to Villa forward Watkins about a wide range of topics including his journey in football, sports therapists, going from playing on loan at Weston-super-Mare in the Conference South to sending England to the Euro 2024 final, and his relationships with key figures such as Emery and Michael Owen.

Watkins has enjoyed his three best top-flight scoring seasons under Emery, and underlined his rise with two goals in Thursday's Europa League quarter-final first leg away in Bologna.

"For me, he's unbelievable," Watkins said on Emery.

"He's obviously seen me at my best and at my worst but I've had all my best moments under this manager.

"I think some of the best moments of the club have come through me, some of my moments.

"He has a lot of faith in me and I think that's why there would be times where I haven't scored and he'll keep picking me because he believes in me and I think he knows that even if I'm not bringing goals to the table that I always work hard for the team, do my job, and he can rely on me.

"He's got that faith in me and I feel like I've gone up another level since he's come in."

Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport journalist

Two potential Europa League winners meet in the top flight this weekend as Aston Villa make the short trip to face Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. BBC Sport explores some of the key themes.

Both sides have been straddling European endeavours with domestic duties this season and both will likely suffer from fatigue having each played tricky ties on the continent on Thursday.

Forest finding form

Europe has provided a welcome distraction from the Premier League for Nottingham Forest for most of this campaign but, under Vitor Pereira, they seem to be finding form at the perfect time.

Forest sit three points above the relegation places with seven games remaining but they have taken four points from the past two league games, including a huge 3-0 victory at relegation rivals Spurs in their last outing.

A creditable draw in Porto on Thursday night with a much-changed side extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to four matches and Pereira seems to be striking the necessary balance between European progression and Premier League survival.

A total of 36 points has been enough to guarantee survival in each of the past nine Premier League seasons and if that trend continues in 2025-26, the Tricky Trees require only four more points from their seven remaining matches.

One thing Pereira is yet to address is Forest's poor home run – they are winless in seven league outings in front of their own fans (D4, L3) and they have failed to score in each of their past three matches at the City Ground. Their last home league win was in 2025, 119 days ago versus Spurs.

Villa's recent struggles at Forest

Aston Villa resume their league campaign against a side they have historically enjoyed the upper hand against in the Premier League era.

The Villans have lost only three of their 17 Premier League meetings with Forest (W9, D5), however, two of those defeats have come at the City Ground in recent seasons and they have not won a top-flight match there since January 1995.

Villa will draw confidence from their 3-1 victory at Bologna in midweek. It was their third win on the bounce in all competitions and the club's eighth in succession in the Europa League this season, with Unai Emery's side putting one foot firmly in the semi-finals - where they could potentially meet Forest again at the end of April.

Ollie Watkins has seemingly responded to his recent England snub by finding his shooting boots and he has now contributed four goals in four starts across all competitions. Incidentally, his two goals on Thursday in northern Italy were his eighth and ninth Villa goals in a major European competition, equalling the club record first set by Peter Withe and matched by John McGinn.

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport Journalist

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground (kick-off 14:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Emery says Jadon Sancho is progressing in his recovery from injury and they will assess the winger this weekend, meanwhile Alysson is back in training with the group. There are others who need to be assessed before a decision is made.

• The Villans still have two routes available to qualify for the Champions League and Emery was asked about the importance of securing a place in the competition: "The Premier League is the first priority we have each year, but playing in Europe gives us a lot of possibilities to develop as a club and getting prestige for us. It is amazing for the supporters too, how we enjoyed it in Bologna with the huge atmosphere."

• He defended Ollie Watkins - who scored twice last time out against Bologna -after a season where some have criticised his numbers: "He worked yesterday like he has all season; maybe he needs others to get the numbers. I am happy with him, because he has been consistent in doing his task."

• Youri Tielemans returned to action against Bologna and Emery spoke highly of the midfielder: "When he is available, he is performing like he did last year. So, so consistent and intelligent. His team-mates feel confident playing with him and he gets his responsibility strongly."

• He added that the club will need to assess how Tielemans recovers before deciding how many minutes he can play on Sunday.

• On Sunday's opponents: "For different circumstances, they are not getting the points they deserve but they are the same team and the same players, they are only changing their coaches. Pereira is a very good coach who has a lot of experience. A lot of things make us respectful for the match on Sunday."

Listen to full match commentary of Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

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Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

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"For me, he is unbelievable," Ollie Watkins told BBC Sport this week when asked about head coach Unai Emery. "He has seen me when I've been at my best and at my worst, but I've had all of my best moments under this manager.

"Some of the best moments of this club have come through..." - the striker, importantly, briefly paused here - "... me, some of my moments. He has a lot of faith in me."

I think it is only fair to report that Watkins slightly caught his breath while saying that. It was as if he suddenly realised that it might look immodest in print.

For a player not usually given to overtly strutting about, it was an arresting statement. Helpfully, it had the benefit of being the truth - a point which he proved twice at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara.

It matters because there have been times this season when it started to look as though the juice in Watkins' game was running a little dry.

He was still working as earnestly as ever but, when the chances came, there was a hint of hesitation, of overthinking, of a blunting of the edge that made him stand out previously.

There was no time to overthink when the ball fell to him twice in the second half against Bologna, though. The edge was back against West Ham United before the break, when he reacted to score a rebound goal, and it was there after Emi Buendia's harrying of Torbjorn Heggem forced a chance and Bologna's malfunction at a corner presented another.

Emery was happy to once again confirm his faith in the striker: "Watkins is a fighter. He is always playing well because he is always doing his task and working for the team."

His team-mates confirmed it too by their gesture of allowing the goalscorer to stand alone in front of the Aston Villa fans, before they engulfed him, and again at full-time when they insisted he led their curtain call.

When Tammy Abraham is fully up to speed, it will help to ease the burden on Watkins, especially with Emery's requirements in that position. Abraham can be confident Emery will get him to that standard over time, just as he has done with Watkins and many other players he has inherited.

Watkins' next goal will be his 100th for Villa - a milestone not often achieved in modern times and he need not be shy of being proud of it.

Listen to full commentary of Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa at 14:00 BST on Sunday on BBC Radio WM [95.6FM, DAB and Freeview 714]

And tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 BST on weeknights

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We asked for your views on Aston Villa's 3-1 win at Bologna in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.

Here are some of your comments:

Matt: Great performance. This Villa side will win the Europa League and secure fourth in the Premier League. The side that hasn't been performing the last couple months, won't, simple. The difference? Tielemans, McGinn, Onana, Cash, Buendia- all performing at high levels. These players, back at a crucial time, will comfortably cap off a brilliant season. UTV. Keep it up boys.

Prit: Very well played Villa, very well played Ollie Watkins and what a difference it is to have John McGinn and Youri Tielemans back. Now let's finish the job next Thursday.

Alan: Job done and great to see Ollie back among the goals. Tielemans, Buendia and the ever reliable McGinn saw us through but the main concern has to be Morgan Rogers who looks more interested in where he's going to be playing next season. Big worry!

Alex: It's amazing what a goal can do to a player. Ollie Watkins has hit form just at the right time for us and has now scored four in his last five. Very professional performance from us tonight especially in that second half.

Raffi: Superb work rate from the lads kept us in the game physically and mentally. Watkins was a man on a mission as he deserved his two goals. He also won six duels which was the third most out of any player. Our set pieces were incredible due to the fact Tielemans was putting them into dangerous areas. Buendia was working on and off the ball, creating chances non-stop. Overall, a performance to be proud of. Come on the Villans!

Mike: Really enjoyed this game. Yes there were some narrow escapes early on but I always felt we could absorb the press and then score on the break. Oddly flat game for Morgan Rogers. He needs to ignore this talk about his future and show what he's made of in these final crucial games.

In this week's edition of the Football Interview, Kelly Somers speaks to Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins.

They discuss his journey in football, going from playing on loan at Weston-super-Mare in the Conference South to sending England to the Euro 2024 final with a 90th-minute winner against the Netherlands.

He talks about how seeing a sports therapist and relationships with key figures such as Unai Emery and Michael Owen have helped him along the way.

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers looks likely to be at the centre of a transfer tug of war this summer after Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea renewed their interest in the 23-year-old. (Times - subscription required, external)

Bayern Munich are also admirers of Rogers and could rival Premier League clubs for his signature. (Mirror, external)

Meanwhile Villa are expected to be among the clubs hoping to sign 23-year-old Manchester City and England goalkeeper James Trafford this summer. (Football Insider, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Adwaidh Rajan
BBC Sport journalist

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Standing tall at Bologna's home ground is La Torre di Maratona - the Tower of Marathon - which was built to symbolise the resilience of athletes.

And Aston Villa were forced to embody that spirit as they produced a performance full of grit, discipline and resolve to gain the advantage.

It had been 18 days since Villa last played competitive football, a 2-0 win against West Ham on 22 March before the Premier League took a break for international football.

And it showed as Emiliano Martinez had to save his side's blushes by denying an acrobatic effort from left-back Juan Miranda before Santiago Castro and Scotland attacking midfielder Lewis Ferguson also went close for the Italians.

But appearing in their third European quarter-final in as many seasons, Unai Emery's men overcame a lethargic start to stamp their authority on the tie as a clinical display helped them go 2-0 up.

Coppa Italia holders Bologna threatened to mount a comeback with Federico Bernardeschi brushing the outside of the post in the 78th minute before Jonathan Rowe claimed a deserved goal.

But Ollie Watkins struck a devastating blow on the Italians late on, meaning Vincenzo Italiano's side will feel hard done by after generating 19 shots - compared to Villa's eight - and striking the woodwork twice.

It was Villa's eighth consecutive victory in the competition under four-time Europa League winner Emery and moves them another step closer to ending a 30-year trophy drought, which would also mean a return to the Champions League next season.

They will now feel confident of finishing the job in the return leg in Birmingham, where they have defeated the Rossoblu twice already over the past 18 months - a 2-0 in last season's Champions League and then 1-0 earlier this campaign.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery speaking to TNT Sports: "Happy yes, but we are trying to get balance in everything. We played the first leg here and won, and it is a fantastic result. How we did the 90 minutes, I can feel more or less good for some things and not too good for the others. A good result, but we still have the second leg to play.

"First half we were a bit shy. We needed to try to do more passes, to get better positions in the attacking third but we were losing the ball easily. We were not conceding a lot but with a few moments we conceded.

"Set-pieces are always important but today it was our priority defensively and offensively because we knew before the match that it would be one way to try to get something. In the first half we scored one goal, other chances as well.

"The result was much better than the match we played in the first half, but in the second half it was completely different. We dominated them and controlled the game like we planned to in the first half but we didn't do, and we were feeling comfortable. We reacted well offensively when they scored.

"In the second leg they are going to try to suppress us and my message inside the dressing room is to keep playing the second leg with the same plan, well with the new plan we will have, but keep respecting them."

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins speaking to TNT Sports: "It could've been different. They had a disallowed goal and if that turns and it was 1-0 and stayed that way, it would've been a long way back for us. We got lucky. They played tough today.

"We got the goal from the set-piece and that kind of took the sting out of the game. They were dominant before that, but just before half-time is a great time to score. We got the second after half-time and then we felt we always were going to score more.

"Back end of the season, I'm raring to go. I could play another 90 minutes. I'm excited for the next few games. I'm hungry.

"Their winger was causing problems tonight. Great finish for his goal and at 2-1 it's all to play for. That other goal, taking a 2-0 lead back to Villa Park, makes it tough for them.

"We have to play like that very game. Like against West Ham [before the international break], we played well. We have to keep pushing, everyone around us is winning. We're in a great spot at the end of the season, and it's all to play for."

Did you know?

• Aston Villa have won 24 of their last 35 games in major European competition (D3 L8), with only Real Madrid (26) and Bayern München (25) winning more major European games than the Villans' 24 since the start of the 2023-24 campaign.

• Aston Villa have scored in their last 11 games in the Europa League, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition (since at least 2007/2008).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Aston Villa's performance

Come back on Friday for a selection of your replies

Bologna boss Vincenzo Italiano makes three changes to his side that defeated Cremonese 2-1 on Sunday.

Torbjorn Heggem, Tommaso Pobega and Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson come in, while English winger Jonathan Rowe also starts for the Serie A side.

Bologna XI: Ravaglia, Joao Mario, Heggem, Lucumi, Miranda, Freuler, Ferguson, Pobega, Bernardeschi, Castro, Rowe

Substitutes: Moro, Orsolini, Casale, Zortea, Odgaard, Sohm, Pessina, Cambiaghi, Castaldo, Franceschelli

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery makes two changes to his side that defeated West Ham United 2-0 in their last outing on 22 March - 18 days ago.

Youri Tielemans makes his first start since a 2-0 win against Newcastle on 25 January in Ross Barkley's place, while Emi Buendia replaces Jadon Sancho.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Tielemans, Onana, McGinn, Rogers, Buendia, Watkins

Substitutes: Bizot, Wright, Lindelof, Mings, Elliott, Garcia, Abraham, Luiz, Maatsen, Bailey, Bogarde

There are three Europa League and Conference League fixtures involving Premier League clubs on Thursday night - and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Europa League: Bologna v Aston Villa - Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Europa League: Porto v Nottingham Forest

• Conference League: Crystal Palace v Fiorentina

All kick-off times 20:00 BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live commentary on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Bologna v Aston Villa".

The Premier League's return this weekend brings trepidation for some and excitement for others.

Football's emotional rollercoaster becomes intense at this time of year, unless of course mid-table mediocrity has taken a grip of things in recent months.

So how are you feeling as an Aston Villa fan with just a handful of weeks left to go?

The league form reads: WDLLLW

The next three league fixtures are: Nottingham Forest (a), Sunderland (h), Fulham (a)

Let us know how you're feeling here

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

When is a break not a break? Many of Aston Villa's players have been busy since we last saw them together, some in emotional fixtures for their countries. But perhaps a change of scenery, even with its own stresses, is nearly as good as a rest.

"I try to, when I'm there, switch off from Villa, and when I'm here switch off from Poland," said Matty Cash here last night.

He now knows, alas, that he has no big tournament in the summer to conserve himself for. Not that he is the type to do that anyway; top sports people are good at compartmentalising things. His major opportunities for 2026 now fall in the next six weeks.

The seven months of the season to this point, with all their joys and dramas, can now be viewed as essentially a process to get Villa to the starting grid, and positioned on the front row.

Arsenal apart, few Premier League sides are as well-placed at this point to hit all their realistic targets for 2025-26.

Villa will have succeeded for the short-term if they win a trophy, and hit a long-term objective if they qualify for next season's Champions League.

Some 44 games into the season and with a maximum of 12 to go, they remain on target for both.

It is not necessary to spend a lot of time observing Unai Emery to spot that this is his happy place: not Bologna specifically, but in European competitions, particularly on the road.

At the press conference last night he was at his most engaged and expressive, eyes gleaming, hands moving, light-hearted but still forensic.

His players must get countless hours of this, the output of one of the game's busiest minds. No wonder those who are as committed as he is get so much from his management and become better players, especially those who have come from relatively humble footballing beginnings.

They are European quarter-finalists for the third season running, and favourites since August to win this one. That might have been beyond the imagination of some in his squad only a few years ago.

Emery still chafes a little at the favourites label, noting the dangers of a physical and aggressive Bologna team with their fans behind them. It is a fair warning.

But for the core of this Villa squad which has grown together since even before Emery arrived, the six weeks ahead are their best chance to fulfil their dreams.

Listen to full commentary of Bologna v Aston Villa at 20:00 BST on Friday on BBC Radio WM [95.6FM/DAB/Freeview 714]

And tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

Explore Aston Villa content on BBC Sounds

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Bologna have become a familiar face for the Aston Villa faithful in recent times.

Not only did the sides play eachother in the group stage of the Europa League earlier this season, but they also met in last season's Champions League campaign.

Unai Emery's side came out on top on both occaisions, but Villa defender Matty Cash is not expecting an easy ride.

"They are a really good team," Cash told the media. "Man to man, all over the pitch. They are really strong. I know their goalkeeper, [Lukasz] Skorupski, I've spoken to him about Bologna at [Poland] training camps. I've seen their fixtures since we last played them and they haven't really lost in Europe. We know how good they are.

"Two legs, a 180 minute game - a lot can happen, especially coming away to a place like this is going to be difficult. But we are going to try and do what we can to put ourselves in a good position for next week."

Borussia Dortmund are weighing up a third move for winger Jadon Sancho, who is on loan at Aston Villa and is expected to leave Manchester United as a free agent this summer. (Telegraph - subscription required, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Europa League game against Bologna at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Emery gave an assessment of the international break: "Players playing with the national team is very good because they are keeping their rhythm and on some days they rested more than normal on some days. With the other players we were resting and working, trying to get the balance. We didn't want to lose the mental process we are building and we are ready."

• He says Jadon Sancho will not be out for much longer. He hopes that the winger will be back in "maybe one or two weeks".

• Emery spoke highly of Bologna manager Vincenzo Italiano, highlighting his excellent record in knockout football - he has reached three finals in the past three years with Fiorentina (twice) and Bologna.

• He added that his side "must adapt" tactically to deal with Bologna's pressing: "I have played Italian teams before. They play so clear and they are consistent with getting their duels individually. As a team, they want to always get in to duels. Imposing our positioning and our tactics is going to be difficult. To compete is to adapt."

Listen to full match commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live

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