Aston Villa are back in the big time for the first time in over 40 years, with their Champions League qualification secured on Tuesday night.
A remarkable season for the Villans has seen them push on from last season's Europa Conference League qualification, and they knew that anything other than a win for Spurs against Manchester City on Tuesday would secure them a return to the European Cup.
On a curious night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, many Spurs fans would rather have seen their team fall to defeat and lose out on Champions League qualification rather than hand the title to bitter rivals Arsenal. That is ultimately what transpired.
City were nervier than expected but ultimately two goals from Erling Haaland carried them to the brink of the title - and Villa to the top tier of European football once more. As Aston Villa's squad celebrated the news, one player looked unexpectedly despondent.
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Aston Villa return to the European Cup after 41 years
When Unai Emery arrived at Villa Park in November 2022, the club were just one point outside the relegation zone with just three wins from their opening 13 games. He would go on to bring them to a seventh-placed finish, and he has brought them even further this season.
In a happy twist of fate, Villa were celebrating their end-of-year awards on Tuesday night, at the same time as their Champions League foes Spurs faced City in their do-or-die clash in North London.
Video on the Aston Villa social media pages captured Emery and the squad at the moment the full-time whistle blew on White Hart Lane, with the immense outpouring of joy showing just how much this meant to the group.
THIS MOMENT. pic.twitter.com/y5aLjEsq6t
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 14, 2024
Villa have had to fight for this top-four finish, and there was a point in early February when just two wins from six had some doubting whether they could stay the course in the race for Champions League football.
Amid that run of six games were two defeats to Manchester United - one of which saw United snatch a late winner at Villa Park after Douglas Luiz had equalised and taunted defender Raphael Varane with his celebration.
At full-time of that February game, ex-United defender Rio Ferdinand had tweeted the Brazilian saying, 'U ok?' with a photo of his celebration. After Villa's Champions League qualification was confirmed on Tuesday, Luiz did not hesitate to hit back.
I just came here to find out if @rioferdy5 is okay?
— Douglas Luiz (@dgoficial) May 14, 2024
The last time Villa were in the Champions League in 1982-83, it was known as the European Cup, and the side were defending champions, having won the competition in 1981-82.
For Unai Emery, this marks some personal redemption, after the disappointing end to his previous Premier League stint in charge of Arsenal. His emotion was clear in addressing the party atmosphere on Tuesday evening.
Unai Emery: "It's a very special day.
"It's our dream, we started the season to be here." pic.twitter.com/2oy1m9kCCU— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 14, 2024
For the rest of the squad, the party was underway.
"So, how was your night?" pic.twitter.com/GKuV8DmdmO
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 14, 2024
🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾 pic.twitter.com/br40FviYYy
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 14, 2024
There was one man in the Aston Villa squad who did not appear to initially be the best pleased, however.
In a photo posted by Villa's social media team, star striker Ollie Watkins could be spotted looking despondent in the background as his teammates and coaches around him joyfully celebrated.
A little bit of sleuthing by fans on football Twitter revealed the potential reason for Watkins' disappointment at Spurs' defeat to City.
Hahahahah https://t.co/w6ymnmDbY4 pic.twitter.com/kC81Om4FJZ
— Ty (@cylertarter) May 14, 2024
After an outstanding solo campaign, Watkins has aided Aston Villa to a historic European qualification, and Europe's best sides will be visiting Villa Park next season. We'd hazard a guess the English striker may come around before too long.
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