"Trailing 1-0 going into Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest (20:00 BST), a 30-year trophy drought hangs around the club's neck. There is a growing sense it is this squad's last chance to end it. Nine of the current squad started Emery's first game - a 3-1 win over Manchester United in November 2022 - with John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara coming off the bench."
"Stability has underpinned Villa's success under former Arsenal boss Emery, who took over when the club were 14th and three points above the relegation zone. But as they stumble just before the biggest game of his reign, has Emery taken this group as far as he can?"
"It underlined the lack of depth within the squad, with Emi Martinez, Matty Cash, Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers viewed as the only first-choice starters in Sunday's XI. Emery, though, has earned admiration from at least two fellow Premier League managers who have been privately impressed with the decisions he made."
Aston Villa enters a defining moment under manager Unai Emery as they prepare for Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest, trailing 1-0 from the first leg. The club faces a 30-year trophy drought, and there is growing sentiment this squad represents their last realistic chance to end it. Nine current players started Emery's first game in November 2022, with six of those starting against Forest last week. Emery transformed Villa from 14th place and near relegation to contenders, but recent form—including a 2-1 home loss to Tottenham and three consecutive defeats—raises questions about squad depth and whether Emery has maximized this group's potential. Despite the setback, fellow Premier League managers privately admire Emery's strategic decisions and focus on the biggest game of his tenure.
Read at www.bbc.com
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