Aston Villa
High-flying Aston Villa comfortably dispatched Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the Premier League on Friday to keep up their quest for more Champions League football and leave their wounded visitors focused on next week's Europa League final.
Recalled Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins took out his anger on Newcastle United on Saturday with a dazzling display in his side's 4-1 victory in the Premier League.
Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers said his side have enough quality to overturn the 3-1 deficit from the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Paris St Germain.
Aston Villa forward Marcus Rashford and Ajax Amsterdam's Jordan Henderson were brought back into the England squad by new manager Thomas Tuchel on Friday for World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is thrilled to have steered his side into a Champions League quarter-final, but now wants even more as they face a daunting clash with Paris St Germain.
Forwards Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford are quickly adapting to Aston Villa's style and growing in confidence, manager Unai Emery said after they linked-up again to lead the club into the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over Cardiff City.
Rashford, who was signed by Villa on loan from United earlier this month, was a halftime substitute in Saturday's 2-1 victory over Chelsea on Saturday, assisting on both goals by fellow newcomer Marco Asensio.
Premier League leaders Liverpool needed Trent Alexander-Arnold's second-half equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw at Aston Villa on Wednesday that lifted them eight points clear at the top.
Although finiancial details were not disclosed by either club, British media reported that the deal to sign the Colombia international was worth around 77 million euros ($80.21 million) plus add-ons.
Despite Aston Villa sealing a Champions League last-16 spot on Wednesday, coach Unai Emery faced questions on the futures of Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins, with the Spaniard adamant he wants to keep one forward, while appearing resigned to losing another.
Aston Villa came from behind to defeat West Ham United 2-1 in the FA Cup third round on Friday after a controversial goal from Amadou Onana and a strike from Morgan Rogers denied Graham Potter a victory in his first game as the visitors' manager.
Juventus drew for a second successive game in the Champions League with a 0-0 stalemate away to Aston Villa on Wednesday, but manager Thiago Motta was satisfied to earn another point despite his side lying 19th in the standings.
Emery, who completed two years at Villa this week and has seen the Birmingham side flourish in the Premier League and Champions League, said his tiring team just took their foot off the gas in the final minutes, but he could not be too cross.
Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran's late lob over Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to earn a 1-0 win in the Champions League was a pre-planned tactic, the English Premier League side's manager Unai Emery said.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery said he is yet to decide on who will start up front in Saturday's game against Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Jhon Duran offering competition for established striker Ollie Watkins with his form in recent games.
Emery, who last season led Villa to their first top-four finish in the league since 1995-96, was happy with his players' response under pressure, as Ollie Watkins scored a brace and substitute Jhon Duran sealed the win with a long range left-footer.
It was a 2-0 defeat by Villa in north London in April that effectively cost Arsenal the title as late goals by Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins put the race in Manchester City's hands.
The former Paris St Germain player joins fellow France internationals Karim Benzema and Ngolo Kante at the Jeddah-based club, who hired Frenchman Laurent Blanc as head coach earlier this month.
Aston Villa are ready to face their biggest challenge of the season on Thursday when they look to overturn a two-goal deficit against Olympiakos in the second leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final on Thursday, manager Unai Emery said.
Aston Villa face a tough task to turn around their Europa Conference League semi-final after losing the home leg against Olympiakos 4-2 on Thursday but captain John McGinn said they are far from finished.
