Aston Villa

You would like to think it took only a short conversation to get the deal done. News that Unai Emery had agreed a contract extension with Aston Villa was - not surprisingly - very warmly welcomed by fans and it is not hard to see the attractions for both parties.

Villa's astonishing progress since Emery's appointment only 18 months ago ensured his name was – and will no doubt continue to be - brought up in discussions as top-level managerial posts around Europe become vacant this summer.

There was no suggestion Villa seemed particularly worried about that, but extending his contract serves clear notice they would be ready to fight off any suitors should that situation arise.

Gossip suggesting Emery's name for other jobs also rested on the dubious assumption that the man himself might want to go. When vacancies open at clubs in the current European elite - Liverpool and Bayern Munich, for example - it is often taken as read that any coach working outside that group would immediately want to take that chance.

No doubt many do, but there is more to it than that.

The traditional idea of the manager, or head coach, as the most important figure at a football club is arguably still true, but that no longer ensures they are the most powerful - at least on the playing side. They might be the most visible, and the one most often called to account for results, but they are only one part of a complex structure and their influence has limits.

Perhaps that was Emery's experience at some of his previous places of employment, but at Villa there is no question that he is much more than just a figurehead.

His early success clearly validated the trust placed in him by the owners when they hired him and, rather than working within an established system, it is now clear Villa work to Emery's requirements.

Moving away from a made-to-measure set-up like that, at a club of Villa's heft and potential, would be a very difficult call. Would he really be granted similar authority somewhere else?

Elite-level football is a sharp-edged environment. Finding a combination of investment and talent that works so well so fast - especially to break into an established bracket of high-achieving clubs - is difficult and rarely achieved.

Clearly, both Villa's owners and Emery know when it feels right.

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Following the news that Aston Villa boss Unai Emery had signed a new contract to keep him at the club until 2027, we asked you to have your say on the deal.

Here are a selection of your thoughts:

Ade: Excellent news. Pay Emery whatever he wants. No other manager in the world could do what he has done in a short period.

Dave: This is arguably the biggest result of this week in football for Villa. Emery has transformed the team but also so much more of the club. He conducts himself with humility and consideration and has reignited a bond between club and supporters that has been missing for far too long. Long may it continue.

Chris: I've been a Villa fan since 1976 and Emery is right up there with Ron Saunders. He has taken essentially the same players as Steven Gerrard and made them a team, not a collection of individuals. Exciting times ahead.

Steve: The man is a genius - he literally lives, eats and breathes football. I would love to pick his brains over a nice steak dinner. Surely only Barcelona or Real Madrid would be enough to tempt him away from the Villa now? And if that was the case we would have to give him our blessings, he is a passionate Basque after all. Best Villa manager ever!

Ben: Who would have thought from16th when he took over we could be competing in Europe in such a short time! Hats off to the man, in fact, the whole club!

Stephen: If only contracts meant anything these days! All it means is that Villa will get a decent bit of compensation if he does go, and let's face it - if Barcelona, Real Madrid, and maybe even Liverpool came knocking, I'm sure Emery would be sorely tempted. But for us Villains it's a joyous bit of news, knowing he is happy to stay and try to succeed.

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Former England goalkeeper Robert Green believes Unai Emery and Aston Villa are a "really good fit" following news that the Spaniard has committed his future to the club until 2027.

During his 18 months in charge to date, Emery has led the club to fourth in the Premier League and taken them to a Europa Conference League semi-final.

Green told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily: "He's done everything Aston Villa could have hoped for and more. As fits go, it really is a really good fit.

"For Emery, he thinks it's a big club, it suits him, the players suit him and he's getting the best out of some of them now. And the club are going 'we were in the Championship not that long ago and what a wonderful position we're in now'."

ESPN journalist Mark Ogden added: "It [the new contract] is a really good move by Villa and by Emery. They're very comfortable together.

"People shouldn't underestimate how big of a club Villa are. If somebody can get it right - they're in a big city, with big backing and a big history - maybe he's the guy that can turn them into a Champions League regular."

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Aston Villa will work to get "better and better" says Unai Emery after the Spaniard signed a contract extension to stay Villa Park until 2027.

Emery has led Villa to fourth place in the Premier League and to a Europa Conference League semi-final where they will face Olympiakos.

"We are enjoying our way together with Villa fans, the club owners, management and this great group of players that we are proud of," said Emery after signing his deal.

"Me and the football management… we share the vision of the owners. Nassef [Sawiris] and Wes [Edens] are very supportive and respectful, and we have a good environment and the right structure to develop this football club.

“We must maintain the hard-working spirit, clever decisions and coordination with the ownership that we have found during this time. We will work to get better and better. And we will demand from each other. Ambition already is, and must always be, the motto of this project.”

Chairman Nassef Sawiris said: “We are thrilled and are building a sporting operation around Unai to support him with a view of returning Aston Villa, a co-founder of the English Football League as we prepare to celebrate our 150th anniversary, to its historic levels of greatness.”

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Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has extended his contract with the club until 2027.

Emery has taken charge of 77 games and has a a 57% win ratio with the club.

He has the best points-per-game record of any Villa manager in the Premier League era (1.95 per game), achieving 35 wins in 59 games (59%). Martin O'Neill and John Gregory are joint second with 1.55 points per game.

And he has accumulated 115 points in the top flight since his appointment. Only Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool have accumulated more.

Since arriving at the club in November 2022, he has guided them to a seventh-place finish to qualify for the Europa Conference League and this season they sit fourth in the Premier League, with Champions League qualification in their sights.

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Unai Emery is in the perfect place to thrive at Aston Villa.

It has been clear for a while he is the right man at the right time for a club with burning ambitions to return to the elite.

When he was appointed as Steven Gerrard’s successor in November 2022, Villa were 14th and three points above the Premier League relegation zone.

Now, Emery is on the verge of taking the club to the next level as they edge closer to Champions League qualification and ending a 28-year trophy drought.

A Europa Conference League semi-final against Olympiakos next month stands between Villa and a major final as they look to win their first piece of silverware since the 1996 League Cup.

A workaholic, he has transformed a struggling side to become one of the most consistent in the division, turning inconsistent players like Leon Bailey into key performers while Ollie Watkins has taken his advice to play more centrally to become one of the most feared strikers in the Premier League.

It is no surprise to see Villa tie Emery down, with links to Bayern Munich having circulated and been dismissed.

It is now time for him to write their next chapter.

What do you think about Emery's deal? Tell us here

It was something of a ‘put up or shut up’ week for Aston Villa, during which they ultimately took a firm step to achieving their best season since 1995-96, when they finished fourth and won a trophy.

After a pivotal win at Arsenal, a nerve-shredding passage into the Europa Conference League semi-finals and a return to controlled three-point performances at Villa Park, their destiny is very much in their hands.

Tottenham, their rivals for the last Champions League spot, have a lot to do.

Despite Villa having a two-legged European semi-final to play in May, Spurs have two Premier League games in hand and overall have the same number of matches to play before the end of the league season.

Spurs will also not be too thrilled that they still have to play the three title contenders in their remaining six games.

While injuries and player fatigue were being highlighted by some sections of the Villa fanbase, boss Unai Emery has avoided excuses, preferring publicly to downplay expectations, while within the squad not giving up on what could be achieved this season.

There have been silver linings to Villa’s problems that have helped too.

Since arriving in January, the impressive Morgan Rogers has gone a long way to filing a Jacob Ramsey-sized hole, while the recent suspensions of John McGinn and Douglas Luiz have arguably given two key members of the midfield a beneficial rest at a key time of the season.

The Villa manager is one of the game's best and is 100% aiming to be playing Champions League football next season, and to add the Europa Conference League to his European trophy haul.

As it stands, things are looking good.

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Aston Villa sit on the cusp of a new era as they look to become a serious contender to the elite.

Their new sponsorship deal is the latest step challenge at the top and to bridge the gap.

A £20m-a-season two-year deal with online sports betting and gaming brand Betano does not match the reported £59m deal Liverpool have with Standard Chartered or Arsenal’s deal with Emirates which is reportedly worth £50m per season.

But, for comparison, Newcastle’s deal with Saudi Arabian events company Sela is reportedly worth £25m per season and after a loss of nearly £120m for the last financial year it is certainly within Villa’s interests to maximise their earning potential.

A new kit deal with Adidas is expected and it all sends a message of progress and ambition at Villa Park.

Now, it also feels like a Champions League place is Aston Villa’s to lose. Tottenham may have two games in hand and are six points behind, with an inferior goal difference, but it is Unai Emery’s side – sitting fourth in the Premier League - who have the points and momentum.

Add to that a Europa Conference League semi-final with Olympiakos next month and there is a real sense Villa are preparing to take a leap to stay at the top.

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Monday, 22 April marks Earth Day - a day in the international calendar that provides the opportunity to reflect, make change and understand more about sustainability and the impacts of climate change.

Sport and football are not immune to these issues and there has been increasing awareness of their relationship to the environment over the past few years.

Football has a global footprint and, as it continues to grow, it has been subject to questions and criticism over some of the decisions that could hinder efforts in reducing its impact, including expanding Uefa cup competitions and the men's Fifa World Cup.

The effects of adverse weather related to climate change has been increasingly felt, with a study last year showing extreme weather has affected 40% of football players and spectators.

But, football and its fanbase also have an opportunity to be part of the solution, with clubs like Forest Green Rovers showing how the sport's environmental footprint can be reduced.

We have taken a look into some of the key things Aston Villa are doing to become more sustainable:

• The club launched their 'Claret, Blue and Green' environmental sustainability commitment in 2021.

• Villa Park's stadium floodlights are now fully LED lighting and LED lighting is in place in the majority of concourse areas.

• Groundskeeping equipment has moved from diesel-powered to electric.

• They are working with a national bus company on a reward scheme for fans travelling by bus to Villa Park to encourage more sustainable travel.

• A reusable cup scheme is reducing plastic waste on matchdays, alongside new food digesters cutting down the amount of food waste.

One important area all Premier League clubs can address to reduce their carbon footprint is their travel, as shown in BBC Sport research.

Why is this important?

Football For Future is a non-profit organisation working with stakeholders across football to create a more environmentally sustainable culture and founder Elliot Arthur-Worsop told BBC Sport: "Climate change will be the defining challenge of our generation, and the future of football will be affected too.

"We're already seeing the impacts, with more than 120,000 English grassroots games being called off annually, and major tournaments such as the World Cup and Afcon being moved because of extreme weather.

"Beyond the pitch, the climate crisis threatens livelihoods and global food and water security.

"With its unparalleled social influence, football has an opportunity to inspire global climate action, from micro-behaviours to essential policy change."

What would you like to see your club do more (or less) of to be greener?

BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

Matt from Cornwall: With Aston Villa now having given themselves a good chance of finishing fourth, what do you think is the outlook for them for the future? What needs to happen for this success to be sustained over next season and seasons to come?

McNulty: The future is incredibly bright. Ambitious owners and an elite manager in Unai Emery, who - with his long-time ally Monchi - is building a very good side.

Of course, Emery’s outstanding work might attract admirers from elsewhere but he has had unfulfilling experiences at Paris St-Germain and Arsenal so why should he go?

Aston Villa appears to be the perfect fit for Emery and the work he does - which is good news for Aston Villa.

Follow more from Phil in our live text here

We asked for your views on Aston Villa's 3-1 win over Bournemouth on Sunday.

Here are some of your answers:

Jon: The balance in midfield, with Tielemans and McGinn as a pairing, has been excellent since Luiz's suspension. Tielemans bossed the midfield, made some great tackles, was always available, and made many more forward passes than Luiz does. I hope Emery sees that. Rogers is without doubt a Premier League player in the making.

Richard: A little worried after Villa's first-half performance, but why worry? Emery sprinkled his magic during his half-time team talk and the rest is history. What an excellent seven days. I can't see Tottenham catching us with their difficult run-in. Fourth is a real possibility and fifth is nailed in. Everything is improving and it is an utter joy to be a lifelong Villa fan.

Dave: Rogers and McGinn were outstanding and the rest weren't too far behind. Excellent performance considering the 120 minutes we played on Thursday.

Annie: Fab display from the boys. I couldn't be prouder!

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Former Everton defender Phil Jagielka has been analysing Aston Villa's newly-found attacking partnership of Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins on Match of the Day 2, with 21-year-old Rogers finding the back of the net and Watkins assisting two goals in the win at Villa Park.

"Rogers has been playing off the left but he has been coming into the pocket of space [down the middle]. As he has said, he is getting a bit more game time now, due to a few suspensions and injuries," said Jagielka.

"He [Rogers] was looking for Watkins and was playing the easier pass for the first five or 10 minutes, but then he just grew into the game. They were working in tandem, with Watkins taking the defender away, and it was a fantastic finish into the roof of the net [from Rogers].

"The best move of the game for me was when Watkins held the ball up fantastically well, it came to Rogers on the half-turn again, and he decided to take a bit more of a risk with the pass. It was a fantastic assist of an assist [from Rogers] for Diaby's goal. It was also finished off by a great ball from Watkins.

"Watkins didn't get his name on the scoresheet, but he did make a couple of fantastic balls. They were changing roles where Watkins sort of dropped into his [Rogers] position and Rogers ended up playing the number nine.

"Two assists for Watkins, he would have liked to have got his name on the scoresheet, but he has been involved in a lot of the good things Villa have done this season."

Ollie Watkins is currently second for goal involvements in Europe's top five leagues, having scored 19 goals and assisted a further 12 goals so far this season, with Bayern Munich's Harry Kane the only player to have contributed towards more goals than the 28-year-old.

Catch up on Match of the Day 2 here

Mark Chapman introduces highlights and analysis from Sunday's four Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch highlights of Saturday's games here.

Listen back to Sunday's BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra match commentaries in full:

Everton v Nottingham Forest

Fulham v Liverpool

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After a dramatic Thursday night, which saw Villa play 120 minutes before beating Lille on penalties in the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League, there were concerns over what state the players would be in physically and emotionally for the visit of Bournemouth.

But Villa fans would have felt comforted by the way their side started the game, dominating possession and creeping up the field regularly, although they didn't create any clear cut chances.

Bournemouth did pose a threat on the counter and one of those attacks led to the opening goal when Milos Kerkez was fouled by Matty Cash and referee Tim Robinson awarded a penalty.

Dominic Solanke made no mistake from 12 yards to get the visitors in front.

Villa continued to look good on the eye and, with their first shot on target, got back on level terms on the stroke of half-time via Morgan Rogers.

There were absolutely no signs of fatigue as Villa emerged for the second half and, lead by striker Ollie Watkins, they pressed on with intent.

Watkins laid on the assist for Moussa Diaby to get Villa in front and the England striker repeated that feat when Leon Bailey grabbed the third.

The win keeps Villa fourth but moves them six points clear of Tottenham, who have played two games fewer.

Villa are in action again, hosting Chelsea on Saturday, and could pull nine points clear of Spurs prior to Sunday's north London derby against Arsenal.

• Aston Villa have won 20 Premier League matches this season, the first time they’ve done so since the first ever campaign in 1992-93 (won 21).

• Bournemouth have scored first and lost five Premier League matches this season, their most ever in a single campaign. Only Brentford (six) have lost more such matches this campaign.

• Aston Villa have scored 71 Premier League goals this season - their joint most in a campaign in the competition, also scoring 71 in 2007-08.

• Ollie Watkins now has 31 Premier League goal contributions for Aston Villa this season (19 goals, 12 assists) – he’s only the ninth English player to score or assist 30+ goals in a 38-game season. His 12 assists have been bettered by just one Villa player in a single season – Ashley Young in 2007-08 (14).

• Dominic Solanke has scored 18 Premier League goals this season, the most ever by a Bournemouth player in a top-flight campaign. He has scored to give them the lead on 12 occasions this season, the most of any player in the division. He’s lost three games in 2023-24 when netting the opener, with only Dion Dublin in 1995-96 ever losing more often in a season when scoring first (four times).

• Leon Bailey has been directly involved in 26 goals in all competitions for Aston Villa this season (14 goals, 12 assists), with today the fourth time this season he has scored and assisted in a game in 2023-24.

Aston Villa came from behind to beat Bournemouth and keep their bid for a top-four finish and Champions League football on track..

It did not begin well, though, as Bournemouth were handed the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot when Matty Cash brought down Milos Kerkez, and top-scorer Dominic Solanke made no mistake from 12 yards.

But Villa remained positive and got their reward on the stroke of half-time when January signing Morgan Rogers fired into the roof of the net.

Despite playing 120 minutes in Europe on Thursday, Villa showed no signs of fatigue and actually seemed to get stronger as the game went on.

Winger Moussa Diaby put Villa in front in the 57th minute to cap a lovely team move before Leon Bailey gave the hosts breathing space 20 minutes later.

Villa stay fourth and have opened up a six-point gap to Tottenham in fifth, although Spurs have two games in hand, while Bournemouth are 13th.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

Villa fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Bournemouth fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

There are four Premier League games on Sunday, and we will bring you every moment.

All times are in BST

Listen to BBC radio commentaries of all games and follow live text updates here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's games, he takes on singer-songwriter and Arsenal fan Sam Tompkins.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Aston Villa's battle with Tottenham for fourth place is one to keep an eye on and Unai Emery's side could take another big step towards Champions League qualification here.

Bournemouth drew 2-2 with Villa earlier in the season and I am expecting another close game this time but, after what they did to Arsenal last week, I cannot back against Villa.

Confidence must be through the roof for Unai Emery's side, and they have home advantage too. Bournemouth are a good team who have proved me wrong this season, but Villa will create enough chances to win.

Sam's prediction: 3-0

Dominic Solanke is class for Bournemouth - what a striker he is - but Villa are winning this and I can see them getting a top-four finish too.

Read the rest of their predictions here

As an Aston Villa supporter who was one the last time the club reached a European semi-final, I can reflect and say Thursday night in France felt like a truly historical night for the club.

The performance against Lille may not have been pretty but the sheer determination and character the team showed to drag themselves back into the game, play 120 minutes and come through victorious following the most dramatic of penalty shoot-outs, just epitomises the character of this team.

Off the back of what, for many, was the best performance of the season in beating Arsenal at Emirates Stadium, the display against Lille was a complete contrast. But in Emi Martinez we have a truly world class goalkeeper and we all love his antics!

Whatever happens this season it has been fantastic, but if we could round it off with a trophy and Champions League qualification it would potentially be the best season in Aston Villa's history.

Now onto Bournemouth at home on Sunday where hopefully we don't get brought back down to Earth.

Richard Sutherland can be found at The Villa Park Podcast, external