- Emi Buendía is relishing the chance to win the Europa League final after Aston Villa’s 4-0 hammering over Nottingham Forest
- The 29-year-old assisted Ollie Watkins for the opener, before taking the lead from the penalty spot
- The final is on Wednesday 20th May in Istanbul
The lights at Villa Park have witnessed countless historic nights, but few felt as momentous as this. Overturning a one-goal deficit, from the first leg, to dismantle Nottingham Forest 4-0 was no easy feat, but the Villans displayed an extraordinary fight and energy to win.
At the heart of the triumph was Emi Buendía, who made one of his best performances in a Villa shirt.
It was a game that required the Villans to be relentless in their press and battle extremely hard for every ball. When the opening 30 minutes showed exactly that, the home faithful continued to respond, providing the perfect atmosphere for Villa to turn around the tie.
They began their comeback in the 36th minute, when Buendía showcased some fantastic skill to dribble in between two Forest defenders, and then drilled the ball across goal for Ollie Watkins to tap in.
As the pressure continued to mount on Forest, a penalty was awarded to the home side when Milenkovic pulled back Pau Torres. It was Buendía who stepped up and calmly tucked it away into the bottom corner to give Villa the lead in the tie.
From then on, Villa sustained their work rate, and after two goals in quick succession by John McGinn, they comfortably marched on into the Europa League final.
Every player played their part, but Buendía was a standout, and has got the recognition he deserves after a difficult last few games.
Tough journey back into the team
In a post-match interview, Buendía reflected on the performance that felt like a culmination of years of progress. He also spoke about the challenges he has faced with injuries, but has managed to work his way back into the team.
“An amazing night for everyone from this club. It was a really special game. I think one of the best we could play in the recent years.
“For myself, being here for five years, missing one whole season. The first one coming back in Europe with the injury, and then last year struggling to get the fitness, and this year helping the team through the season is special for me, so I’m really happy for everyone.”
On Villa Park atmosphere
The tone for the evening was set long before kick-off. Thousands of supporters greeted the team bus, creating a cauldron of noise that clearly translated onto the pitch. One of the players who used their energy the most was Buendía, who didn’t stop running for 90 minutes.
“From the beginning, when we get with the bus, we’ve seen the supporters, the excitement in their faces. Everyone was really desperate to see the match. As a player, we were really focused on this game, because we needed to make a strong match to comeback the result in the first leg.
“From the beginning, we pushed a lot, we fought fantastic, and then we have the clarity to play our football, to try to be calm, to not rush from the beginning. I think a lot of credit for everyone.”
What it means to get to a European final
Whilst Villa do have experienced players in the squad, many have not achieved European success. For Buendía personally, reaching the final is “special” and represents the accomplishment of the goal set back at the start of the season.
“It’s special. Obviously, for myself, it’s the first time. Obviously, some teammates have already experience, but as a team, it was one of the challenges for everyone, as a club, as a team, from the beginning of the season.
“We played a fantastic way in the competition, from the beginning, in the group stages, and then in all the knockouts. I think we deserve to be in the final, and then we have one step ahead for a title, and we go for it.”
ReadAstonVilla verdict
With a ticket to the final officially booked, the weight of expectation now shifts towards the trophy itself. Villa have proven they can handle the pressure of a big occasion, and with the momentum of a four-goal rout behind them, they head to Istanbul not just to participate, but to finish the job.
As Buendía made clear, the team is no longer just dreaming of success; they are one step away from making it a reality.
