By his own admission Unai Emery is driven by the possibility of getting his hands on another trophy and Aston Villa’s first piece of silverware since 1996. Emery spelled out as much in his programme notes, detailing the seven semi-finals and five finals in which he has led teams, tasting victory on four occasions. Such is his obsession, he pointed out it is eight finals if you count the Super Cups.
Villa’s quest to win the Europa Conference League remains on after goals from Ollie Watkins and John McGinn earned victory in front of a pair of royals but Bafodé Diakité’s late header dampened their enthusiasm and gives Lille hope for the return leg. Villa had to survive a nervy finale in which the substitute Yusuf Yazici went close for the the visitors.
