Aston Villa

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist at Old Trafford

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa missed out on the Champions League by the smallest margin as their campaign ended in hugely controversial fashion.

Down to 10 men after goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was sent off for charging out of his penalty area and barging Rasmus Hojlund to the floor, Villa's hopes looked over.

But with Everton taking the lead at Newcastle, Villa were in the top five and then felt they should have had the opening goal at Old Trafford only for Morgan Rogers' effort to be disallowed.

Referee Thomas Bramall instantly blew, saying Rogers had kicked the ball out of the hands of United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, and because the decision was made before Rogers then scored, that meant the video assistant referee could not get involved.

Television replays showed the goal should have stood and Emery was furious, even more so when United then scored two late goals with Villa missing out on a Champions League place because their goal difference was worse than fifth-placed Newcastle's.

Then things got messy. In the post-match news conference director of football operations Damian Vidagany, sitting next to Emery, said the club were unhappy 35-year-old Bramall had been given such an important game.

"We are going to send a complaint," said Vidagany. "The complaint is not about the decision, it is about the selection of the referee - one of the most inexperienced referees in the Premier League."

The club then confirmed that complaint later on, although they did it that "ultimately, we acknowledge the outcome for us will not change".

But, when it all calms down, it will be Europa League football, and not Champions League football, for Villa in 2025-26.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Aston Villa's performance against Manchester United and the season as whole.

Here are some of your comments:

Steve: Wonderful season - just didn't turn up for the two big games at Wembley and Old Trafford. Today, we were poor but that bit of refereeing with Rogers' goal was a disgrace. Ah well, still good memories.

Simon: Emery just doesn't seem to be able to get a performance out of his side when it really matters. In fact, they've been at their poorest when it is a winner-takes-all situation. Added to some head-scratching team selection.

Tim: The goal should have stood but, let's be honest, we didn't deserve anything from that. Just like in the FA Cup semi-final, we froze when it mattered and played way too ively - even before we went down to 10. We have a real problem playing against five at the back. On the bright side, we are probably favourites for the Europa League next season. UTV!

Chris: A season that promised so much ends disastrously. A huge financial hit in missing out on the Champions League and probably highlights Emery's limitations as a top coach.

Ross: Europa League is the correct result from a good season. We were stretched squad-wise with Champion's League football, yet we rose to the challenge and put up a great fight! Our sights should be set on winning the Europa League next season.

Image source, Getty Images

Unai Emery spoke to TNT sports about Morgan Rogers' disallowed goal in their defeat to Manchester United: "The TV is clear with the move but of course, we have to accept it. It was a mistake. A big mistake.

"The match we played overall in 90 minutes with the red card and this goal disallowed, it was a key moment. but overall, they did more. But we showed resilience with one player less. We could have scored one goal and it would have been a good opportunity to continue and keep the result. We didn't perform enough today to get a good result but we could get it, in case some decision weren't like it was."

On Aston Villa's season: "We did a big effort during the second part of the season. We lost the chance to be in the top five during the first half. I was happy with how we progressed in the season and achieved the opportunity to play today for the Champions League position.

"We got the Europa League and we have to be more or less happy about the achievement. But we were close to the Champions League. We have to be happy and proud of everything we did but we always want to improve. We need to keep going and the Premier League is the most difficult league and to get Europe through the league is difficult."

Image source, Getty Images

Emiliano Martinez became the first goalkeeper Opta has on record since 2003-04 to make five saves and get sent off in the first half of a Premier League game, while he was the first Aston Villa goalkeeper red carded in the Premier League since Brad Friedel in March 2009 against Liverpool.

Image source, Getty Images

It went right down to the final day but the European places for next season are now finally confirmed.

Manchester City and Chelsea's wins saw them secure third and fourth respectively, while Newcastle took the fifth and final Champions League spot despite a final day loss to Everton.

Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest's defeats mean they miss out on the top five but will be heading on European adventures in the Europa and Conference Leagues respectively.

Chelsea's win means there will not be an additional spot for eighth place so Brighton's victory at Tottenham does not creep them into Europe.

So the curtain has come down on Aston Villa's season with a defeat at Manchester United.

Defeat at Old Trafford means the Villans will not play Champions League football for a second consecutive season, but a Europa League campaign - in which they will be one of the favourites - provides some excitement for fans.

Unai Emery will have plenty of thinking to do over the summer to decide if any of the club's loan players deserve a permanent switch to the West Midlands.

How are you feeling after the game and at the end of a long campaign?

Have your say on Aston Villa's performance and season

Come back to this page later to find a selection of your replies

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

Is this a sign of what is to come for Manchester United with the players they are happy to let leave in the summer? United boss Ruben Amorim leaves goalkeeper Andre Onana, winger Alejandro Garnacho and forward Joshua Zirkzee out of the matchday squad.

Victor Lindelof, who is out of contract in the summer, starts, while Christian Eriksen, set to leave the club, is among the substitutes.

Altay Bayindir, Ayden Heaven and Lindelof start with three changes from the side that lost to Tottenham in the Europa League final.

Manchester United XI: Bayindir, Heaven, Maguire, Lindelof, Mazraoui, Dorgu, Casemiro, Fernandes, Diallo, Mount, Hojlund.

Subs: Heaton, Dalot, Evans, Fredricson, Ugarte, Collier, Eriksen, Mainoo, Obi.

Aston Villa are unchanged from the side that beat Tottenham 2-0 in their last Premier League match, although they are boosted with the returns of Youri Tielemans and Jacob Ramsey, who are both among the substitutes.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Maatsen, Torres, Konsa, Cash, Onana, Kamara, McGinn, Asensio, Rogers, Watkins.

Subs: Olsen, Digne, Mings, Tielemans, Barkley, Garcia, Ramsey, Malen, Bailey.

All 20 teams are in action on the final day of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign, and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Bournemouth v Leicester City

• Fulham v Man City

• Ipswich v West Ham

• Liverpool v Crystal Palace - Listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Man Utd v Aston Villa

• Newcastle v Everton

• Nottingham Forest v Chelsea - Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Southampton v Arsenal

• Tottenham v Brighton

• Wolves v Brentford - Listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

All kick-off times 16:00 BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Image source, Getty Images

Unai Emery's side have earned an unrivalled 24 points since the beginning of March, winning eight of their nine Premier League matches during that period.

But they need one more win today.

Villa will secure Champions League qualification if they win and, either Manchester City lose or Newcastle or Chelsea fail to win.

A Villa draw would be enough if Newcastle lose.

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim badly needs some kind of positive result to end the season with, and he would probably bite your hand off now if you offered him a draw against Aston Villa, who really need a win to have a chance of making the top five.

With what's at stake for Villa, though, I am expecting them to take the points. Unai Emery's side will be too good for United, and Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers could really do some damage to their defence.

I feel sorry for Amorim, because he seems like a really nice guy who is very likeable, but that will not help him keep his job.

We asked one United fan who called up 606 on Wednesday night whether he would want to keep Amorim on and he said he would love to have Sunday lunch with him. But that is not the same as wanting him to stay on as manager, is it?

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

With the 2024-25 Premier League season coming to a close, we would love to hear what you think of this club page.

A huge thank you to those who have already submitted their responses and have interacted with the page in any capacity throughout the campaign.

We are continuously working to improve your experience and bring you the best possible content and coverage of your team.

It is your club and your voice.

So what do you like?

And what could be improved?

Send thoughts here

We asked you to pick your player of the season after our Aston Villa fan contributor narrowed it down to Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, John McGinn and Lucas Digne.

Here are some of your comments on your selection, as well as some other names thrown into the ring:

Prit: We've had a lot of good performances from different players at different stages of the season and the article plays tribute to that. But my choice would have to go to Boubacar Kamara. When we struggled, he was the glue that held Villa together, for example, playing across the midfield and even in defence. Now that we have got our players back, he is our driving force a la David Platt . The cherry on the cake is that now he is taking shots on goal and scoring! But it's been a very tough decision this season, which is exactly how we want it.

James: Tielemans. This was the season he showed Villa fans what a class player he really is. A killer er and a dominant midfield presence alongside McGinn, he has proved the difference in a lot of games and he's played in over 50 of them this season.

Steve: Tielemans has been our most consistent player over the season and our most creative player. But the player who makes us tick and is generally man of the match in our best performances is Kamara. If only we could keep him fit for a whole season, we would be two to three places higher in the league.

Rob: It's been hard to single out one standout player because we've got quality everywhere you look. But I've gone with Rogers as my player of the season for his physicality, ability to win one on ones and his consistent attacking threat.

Ian: Youri has changed every Villa fan's opinion this season, going from a player we hoped would be successful to an irreplaceable part of the clockwork alongside Bouba Kamara, making our engine tick. His ability to see and then pick out his target has created some of the most memorable moments of a memorable season. He plays with a smile and has become undroppable. Thanks and big love, Youri!

Roger: You missed Ezri Konsa. He'd be my pick, so as he's not included, I'm out.

Mike: Tielemans is my player of the season, not just for his consistent performances and contributions in this campaign, but also because of how far he's come since ing the club and not being able to get a start for such a long time. He's stuck at his job, proved he deserves to be in the starting XI - and forced Unai Emery to build the midfield around him. He is probably the only certainty on the teamsheet other than Emi Martinez.

Don't forget to make your selection here

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United have won 40 Premier League games against Aston Villa – only the Red Devils themselves have beaten an opponent more often (42 wins over Everton).

However, Villa have earned eight points from their past seven Premier League games against Man Utd (won two, drawn two, lost three), as many as in their previous 31.

Villa have won just one of their past 26 final league games played away from home, winning 3-1 at Chelsea in 2001-02.

Aston Villa head into the final day of the Premier League season outside the Champions League qualification spots, but would failing to make it represent an unsuccessful season for Unai Emery's side?

Former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown tells The Football News Show why reaching the Europa League would be something for Unai Emery and his side to be proud of.

Watch The Football News Show on iPlayer

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game at Manchester United (kick-off 16:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On realistically needing Chelsea or Newcastle to drop points to help his side qualify for the Champions League: "It is not in our hands but we are grateful to be here now."

• He added he is proud of how his side have found form after struggling earlier in the season: "I am so, so proud of our club, our ers, our players, the workers and employees. We have been demanding and consistent in the second half of the season to arrive at the key moment with the opportunity to qualify for the Champions League."

• He is not interested in how other teams are performing on Sunday: "In our hands is only our result on Sunday. That's the only issue I want to focus on with the players. I don't want to know other results. I want only to play our match, only to focus on our match in 90 minutes and try to focus the dressing room on everything tactically and individually. We must win, we must compete and we must get our result."

• Asked about whether Manchester United, who are 16th in the Premier League and lost Wednesday's Europa League final to Tottenham, are still a threat: "The greatness is still there - the coach is great and the players are very good."

• On Villa trio Ezri Konsa, Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins being named in the recent England squad: "Their development has been clear. They have come up from playing in the Championship to playing international football."

• Emery is "so happy" with his current squad and is not looking at summer transfers, but added Villa always must stay "alert" about potential arrivals.

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

David Michael
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Back-to-back Champions League qualifications would be pivotal in maintaining the momentum of the Unai Emery revolution at Aston Villa.

It would not only further cement the club's footballing status at the top table but also provide a vital financial boost - especially amid ongoing wage pressures and broader fiscal challenges.

In the bigger picture, Villa simply cannot afford to fall short. Already Tottenham, one of the two clubs they are aiming to displace in the so-called 'Big Six' has sneaked into the Champions League via the Europa League final.

Falling behind them now risks more than lost prestige - it could mean losing key players and missing out on top transfer targets needed to strengthen this summer.

And for a final-day decider? Most Villa ers would pick any ground but Old Trafford, which has been the 'Theatre of Nightmares' over the past seven decades.

Since 1955, Villa have won just three times - in 1983, 2009 and 2021.

Still, Unai Emery is no stranger to breaking hoodoos. He delivered Villa's only home win over Manchester United this century - and now has the chance to complete a rare managerial double.

To do that, the players need to summon the mindset and composure that deserted them in recent semi-finals - games where they were favourites, but faltered.

If they can rise to the occasion and finish on 69 points - one more than their fourth-placed finish last season - even if other results do not fall their way, it still marks tangible progress.

To the players and the manager: one last push. On the club's 150th anniversary, securing consecutive Champion League qualifications would provide a great foundation for a potential new legacy period in the club's history.

Find more from David Michael at My Old Man Said, external

England manager Thomas Tuchel has announced his squad for the World Cup qualifier against Andorra (7 June) and friendly against Senegal (10 June).

Manchester City's Phil Foden, Newcastle's Tino Livramento and West Ham's Jarrod Bowen all miss out, but Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White and Chelsea duo Noni Madueke and Trevoh Chalobah have been selected.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked if you think selling Emi Martinez would be a wise idea for Aston Villa this summer, after our BBC Radio WM reporter Mike Taylor pondered whether the club should sell one of their "crown jewels" this transfer window.

Here are some of your replies:

Steve: Emi is a cherished asset by the club and, more so, by the fans. Losing him would hurt greatly. If it means we stay strong and retain other assets, I will be sad but I will accept the club's decision. His performances this year haven't been that good, so could we find a replacement that leaves us with a positive PSR balance? I'm up for that.

Phil: Madness to sell him.

Matt: Selling Martinez might be forced, either by PSR or by Emi wanting to go and the money being good enough, But if we make Champions League, we will want a top goalkeeper. Can we replace Martinez with someone as good or better? I don't know that we can. On a purely fan level though, I'd be devastated to lose him. He's got the sort of personality that makes him compelling to watch and I'm not sure there is a price I'd be happy to sell at.

Pip: I don't think it would be a good idea to sell Martinez, this summer at least. It would be good to act on succession planning, like we did with Douglas Luiz, but we cannot replace Martinez with someone of equal quality this summer.

• Not a Villa fan? Find and follow your club here

John: No chance. He is the jewel in our crown.

Cassie: Now is the time to sell Martinez and buy Caoimhin Kelleher from Liverpool. He is a very good keeper that is yet to peak. Martinez made a few costly mistakes this season and Villa should easily make a profit on him. He may want to try and prove himself again in a different league, and that is acceptable.

Charlie: Martinez is not for sale. Villa have had plenty of good goalkeepers over the years, but it's no coincidence that during the dark years of relegation, Villa continually changed their number one without success. The spine of a good team is grounded at the goalkeeper and Martinez is still in his prime and loves the club. Plenty of players bring their families onto the pitch in the final home game and Martinez's tears merely prove his devotion to both the Villa project and the fanbase.

The final day of the 2024-25 Premier League is edging closer, which means we will soon know the answer to who will make up the remaining Champions League spots.

Five teams are in contention for the final three positions and earlier on Thursday, we asked you to put in order where you thought those clubs would finish.

The results showed Chelsea and Nottingham Forest - who face each other at the City Ground - are who you believe will be the sides to miss out.

However it pans out, it is set to be an afternoon of high tension.