Midlands | Villa fans react to reaching Europa League final

Aston Villa 4 - 0 Nottingham Forest (Villa won 4-0 on aggregate)

How are you feeling Aston Villa fans? A memorable night sees them beat Forest and reach the Europa League final.

Author | Peter Grainger

These are the best comments from the Villa fans that we've spoken to.

Rick: What a superb team display. Every player put in a real shift. McGinn covered every inch of the pitch. Emery, the coaching staff, the players and especially the passionate Villa fans all deserve this moment. Everyone has worked tirelessly to reach this stage. As an 11-year-old I was allowed to stay up and watch Villa beat Bayern in the European Cup final. Some 44 years later, I will definitely be watching Villa in another European final.

Stephen: They say a week is a long time in football and this proved it. After one of the poorest displays on Sunday, this was one of the finest performances in recent memory. The support was brilliant and the players' work rate was outstanding. They never stopped pressing or chasing. Watkins and Buendia were exceptional. Istanbul will not know what has hit it.

Michael: I've supported Villa for more than 40 years and had almost lost hope of seeing them in another European final, yet here we are on the brink of glory and I could not be happier. What a transformation from the past couple of matches and what a time to deliver the performance of the season. Emery got his tactics spot on, giving Watkins, Rogers and McGinn the freedom to impose themselves on the game. The fans also played a huge role, fully deserving their reputation as the 12th man. The final will be historic.

ICYMI

Aston Villa 4 - 0 Nottingham Forest (Aston Villa won 4-1 on aggregate)

Match report from European Super Football can be found by clicking the link below.#AVFC #Villa #UEL https://t.co/pXKGkyi424

— SuperLocalSportsNews (@SuperNewsSports) May 9, 2026

Jake: That was probably the best 90 minutes I have seen under Emery, especially given the pressure they were under after a dreadful run of results and facing a team in top form despite missing players. Before the game I said I just wanted my team to turn up and compete. They did far more than that.

Paula: Villa were out of this world. A fully deserved victory. Every player was excellent but John McGinn was simply unbelievable.

Iain: Any nerves before kick-off after the Spurs disaster quickly disappeared following an energetic opening few minutes. It was a brilliant team performance that ended the idea we were heading for a disappointing finish to the season. I cannot wait for Istanbul.

Terry: The pre match TIFO at the Holte End was amazing. Set the tone for an incredible night.

Pre match TIFO at Holte End

Alexia: What a fantastic evening. Nights like this show why Villa supporters sometimes get frustrated because we know how good this side can be. The commitment to reach the Europa League final was outstanding. It is a huge match on 20 May but Sunday's game against Burnley is also massive as Villa look to all but secure a Champions League place. Credit once again to the manager for his inspirational team selection and motivation. In Unai we trust. Please stay!