Aston Villa’s season was not always smooth. They needed an ability to hang in there in the tough times and Emery’s trusted players to stand up. Matty Cash, offering a layer of consistency, did just that. He was my #AVFC player of the season. Free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/730...

Morgan Rogers’ future at #AVFC: Expectation he will move, Villa’s intent to keep him, 23yo not agitating to leave but feeling it is the right time, with Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester clubs, PSG, Bayern asking to be kept informed + more. Free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

There is an expectation from multiple observers that Morgan Rogers will leave #AVFC this summer. But senior club sources state they are intent on keeping the 23yo. Any offer complicated by Middlesbrough having a 20% sell-on clause. Story in @theathleticfc.bsky.social dealsheet:

New: #AVFC transfer dealsheet - incomings and outgoings: Intent on keeping Rogers, wanting Martinez to stay, adhering to a finance plan, key positions to recruit (a pacey winger), but are also dependent on who leaves. Free to read @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/725...

Aston Villa's season review: A* grade, goal of the season, best game and opposition player, biggest surprise, biggest mistake, quote of the season, funniest moment and the issue(s) that will dominate the summer... Enjoy @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC

Douglas Luiz expected to return to parent club Juventus after loan spell at #AVFC and in view of beginning pre-season under head coach Luciano Spalletti. 28yo’s long-term future still yet to be fully decided. @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/731...

Exclusive interview with Morgan Rogers: Relationship with Emery, the watershed Arsenal game, the many minutes played, dealing with extra attention and why he does not play football "to be boring." Free to read @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/730...

Have a real fear that, as England slog away in the North America heat, we will pine for Adam Wharton’s effortless ability to pass forward

Emiliano Buendia, the renaissance: @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...

Pep Guardiola: "We played against an incredible team. Unai, what a manager. Congratulations to them for an incredible season. They will be an incredible contender in the future in the Premier League.” #AVFC

Emery on Ollie Watkins: "How he’s finishing the season is fantastic. Even 90 minutes, maybe he was expecting to play less or to rest but Tammy Abraham was sick yesterday. But how he was being hungry to score more goals, to play more because I think now is his moment." #AVFC

FT: Man City 1-2 #AVFC Villa come from behind to win. The difference in the two halves summed up their season. Firstly, wildly fluctuating - poor (understandably) in the first half, before, a second key factor, showing a level of resilience that has majorly contributed to success this season.

Foden offside. Villa still 2-1 - as you were #AVFC

Goal, Phil Foden. 2-2 A shame. #AVFC

John McGinn will be Villa's fifth change. #AVFC

Villa fans ole-ing now. Bailey almost scores. Villa all over City. Maybe you can play Premier League football with alcohol just out of your system, little to no pre match analysis and deciding the squad late and based on who is in the more suitable condition. #AVFC

A second guard of honour today as Villa’s players and subs mark John Stones’ last appearance for City. #AVFC

Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana coming on. #AVFC

GOAL GIVEN! Villa 2-1 and have been excellent since the break. Watkins wanted to play today and my word, what a finish. A type of finish that looked a far cry away a few months ago. Poise, confidence and clinical - back to being one of the league's best strikers. 2-1 #AVFC

Watkins finishes beautifully after great feet but the goal is ruled out for offside. But he looks on... #AVFC

Ollie Watkins organises Villa into a guard of honour with the City players for Bernardo. Nice gesture. What a player he’s been. #AVFC

Villa have an excellent chance but Leon Bailey skews wide. I'm afraid that is his last two years in a nutshell. #AVFC

Hahah that is brilliant. Watkins scores from close range after the ball fell to him from a corner. He celebrates, lifting the ball as if it was the Europa League trophy. He has his 20 goals for the season - a target he felt was achievable, even if it looked unlikely back in December. #AVFC 1-1

Matty Cash is having to come on for Andres Garcia. #AVFC

HT: Man City 1-0 Villa City were all over Villa for large parts, who are yet to have a shot. Average positions show only Watkins over the halfway line. But it's a lovely day, clear blue skies and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. #AVFC

Marco. Bizot. with a top save #AVFC

28 minutes gone, 16 passes in City's half for Villa. But, listen, who really cares #AVFC

Goal Semenyo. At the back post after the initial flick on from a corner. 1-0 Man City #AVFC

Final game of the season with the stakes so low. Yet it's the same old Buendia, running into every challenge, pleading his innocence with every foul furiously #AVFC

Confident start with the ball from #AVFC. Trouble is when they have to defend out wide. But they are willing to play out, passing neatly, too. Leon Bailey threatening, perhaps briefly, to roll it back to December 2023. A nice, gentle game this

Nice moment as Emery hugs Guardiola but pushes him away so he can enjoy a final entrance at The Etihad. Like many others, Guardiola is Emery’s coaching inspiration & says it’s an “honour” to face him in his final game here. But, to be honest, I have no idea what this is going to look like. #AVFC

The final match of a long, ultimately joyous season for Aston Villa. #AVFC

Ollie Watkins, despite attending a few parties since the Europa League final, was determined to play this afternoon. Has long been his target to score 20 goals this season and is currently on 19... #AVFC

No Morgan Rogers in the starting XI today, for the first time this season. Last time he didn't start was January 4, 2025, due to suspension. Was the plan for Rogers to sit this one out for some time, had #AVFC qualified for the CL and given the enormous effort put in this season and in the EL final

The Europa League champions are in town Well, they’ll try to be #AVFC

"They deserve it and, tomorrow at the parade, we can probably get drunk together." How Aston Villa celebrated their Europa League final win - in Istanbul and back in Birmingham. @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/729...

Morgan Rogers received his call-up to England's World Cup squad earlier this week. Elsewhere, Ollie Watkins is also deservedly named. He took the previous omission on the chin and fought back. #AVFC

New: Prince William attended Aston Villa’s afterparty & toasted the Europa League victory into the early hours. William mixed & chatted, impressing guests with just how detailed his football knowledge is. Piece on the celebrations @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/729...

Nassef Sawiris stopped to talk after the match: “Amazing. It means a lot. I can’t express myself with words. Very special. An eight-year ride and we saw today what hard work can do with Unai’s effort and the whole team. An amazing win. "The sky is the limit." #AVFC

“This was like the ending of Mission Impossible. Many twists against us, but we made it.” The inside story of Aston Villa's Europa League winning season, told by players, staff, close observers and Unai Emery - FREE TO READ: @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/728...

Some players were open, not necessarily pushing, to an exit last summer. Others outside the dressing room had doubts whether Emery would stay beyond the season. Now players will receive bonuses for winning the Europa League. Excerpt below, but free on @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC

Matty Cash, comes to the mixed zone, beer in hand; “the king set the game-plan out for us. He clearly is because he’s won it five times.” #AVFC

The peak reached, the mountain climbed. Aston Villa bath in euphoria. It is glorious. From the "worried" lows, to the big high - the inside story of #AVFC's turbulent, though ultimately joyous, season. FREE TO READ: @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/728...

Anyone fancy a trophy parade tomorrow? Say late afternoon? #AVFC

Full time: #AVFC 3-0 Freiburg Aston Villa have won the Europa League. A first major trophy in 30 years. History made, legends immortalised

One minute of added time, which says it all #AVFC

Douglas Luiz and Tyrone Mings, the man who has seen it all like McGinn, replace Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres. #AVFC

Buendia hits the side netting. Perhaps should have squared to Watkins to make it 4-0. I did say Villa were confident against this type of defensive approach... #AVFC

Freiburg fans are now sitting down. The first goal, but especially the second, felt massive. Broke Freiburg's approach and lost their aggressive edge. Villa, with confidence and momentum, are now running a weary Freiburg defence everywhere and anywhere. #AVFC

Amadou Onana replaces Victor Lindelof, who rightfully exits with a standing ovation. #AVFC