- Ollie Watkins’ double helped Aston Villa beat Bologna 3-1 in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final on Thursday night
- Unai Emery issued a reminder after the match that there is still work to do
- The second leg is at Villa Park on Thursday 16th April
Unai Emery described Aston Villa’s 3-1 first-leg lead as a “fantastic result,” though he admitted the scoreline was a generous reflection of his side’s actual performance.
The Villa boss saw his side take a massive step toward the semi-finals thanks to goals from Ezri Konsa and a brace from the irrepressible Ollie Watkins. However, the Spaniard was under no illusions that the scoreline flattered his team after a difficult night in Italy.
Aston Villa took a commanding step toward the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday night, silencing the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara with a clinical 3-1 victory over Bologna.
Ollie Watkins proved to be the decisive factor, netting a sharp brace to hand the Villans a vital lead and place them in a position of strength ahead of the return leg at Villa Park.
Despite the commanding advantage heading into the second leg, the manager acknowledged that his team had to weather significant pressure to secure the victory.
The Villans had to absorb a lot of pressure from Bologna, who had a goal chalked off for offside through Santiago Castro, though the English side defended resolutely.
Ezri Konsa put them 1-0 ahead just before half-time, and they went into the break feeling lucky.
Watkins doubled Villa’s lead early on in the second half, before Jonathan Rowe looked to have halved the deficit in the 90th minute, ahead of the second leg. However, the 30-year-old striker’s stoppage-time goal restored their two-goal cushion and gave a killer blow to the Italian side.
During his post match interview after the match, Emery stated he was pleased with the result, but knew his side were a little bit lucky.
“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. In the first half, we were a little bit shy.
“The result was better in the first half than the match we played, not brilliant. The second half, it was completely different. We started fantastic, we dominated more and were controlling the game like we planned in the first half, but we didn’t do.
“When we were feeling comfortable in the match, they scored one goal, but we reacted fantastic with the last corner, and we scored.”
Watkins was undoubtedly the visitors best player, and his clinical finishing was the difference in what could have been a closer result.
Now heading back to Villa Park, they will be feeling confident although It is likely to be a very different game and style, with Emery’s side probably having more of the ball, but Bologna showcased the danger they pose, so Villa will have to be careful.
The job is not done yet
As always in a post-match interview, Emery reiterates his focus for the next match, ensuring his players don’t feel they are through to the semi-finals yet.
“Still a fantastic result, but still the second leg to play. I know they are dangerous because how they are competing is really fantastic.
“In the second leg, they are going to try there to suppress us. Of course, my message in the dressing room is (to) keep playing the second leg to plan, a new plan we will have, but respecting them.”
The hunt for silverware and Champions League football is on for Villa, and this is the mentality they need to achieve it.
The Villans now shift their focus back to the Premier League and a clash with Nottingham Forest on Sunday before welcoming Bologna to Birmingham for the return leg on Thursday, April 16.
With a spot in the semi-finals within reach, Emery is determined to ensure his “winning machine” doesn’t stall at the final hurdle.
