Aston Villa hero Emi Buendia reflects on 'dream' night and makes Europa League final vow

Emi Buendia has urged Villa to take the final step and make history by winning the Europa League - after reflecting on one of the best nights of his life.

Midfielder Buendia was among the star performers as Unai Emery’s team demolished Nottingham Forest 4-0 in Thursday’s semi-final second leg to set up a date with Freiburg in Istanbul on May 20.

The Argentina international brilliantly set-up the home side’s opener for Ollie Watkins, before then netting from the penalty spot to put his team ahead in the tie for the first time.

Buendia has now scored 10 goals in all competitions during what has comfortably been his best all-round season since joining in a £38million deal from Norwich nearly five years ago.

The 29-year-old, who was then Villa’s record signing, appeared to have played his final match for the club when he joined Bayer Leverkusen on loan for the second half of last season.

But he now wants to sign-off an impressive year by helping Villa end their 30-year wait for major silverware.

He said: “Winning a trophy now, it would mean a lot. To win one is very difficult. I don’t know how many teams started this competition, fighting for it.

“You can feel yourself as one of the main team or a favourite but every game is different and difficult.

“I think we did very well right from the beginning, in the group stages to qualify in second position, being serious in every match and then the knockouts.

“To play a final and write our own history as a team this season, for this club, would be incredible.”

While Villa still have work to do - both in Europe and the Premier League - Thursday night gave Buendia the chance to reflect on his own journey with the club.

A serious knee injury, suffered on the eve of the 2023-24 season, saw him miss more than a year of action and he struggled to make an impact last season as Villa competed in the Champions League.

But after convincing Emery to keep him on board last summer, he has grasped his chance this term, scoring several key goals in a Villa side which is close to securing a Champions League return through a top-five Premier League finish.

Buendia said: “Thursday was one of the best nights of my life, a dream.

“Every player has his own journey and I know mine very well, how difficult it has been at times when you have setbacks like a big injury and are in a bad moment.

“I fought a lot to be here, to come back and I always wanted to help this team.

“Happily for me I could help the team to play and we are now one step further toward making history for this club.”

Villa were roared on to victory by a vociferous home support and Buendia said: “From the first moment I signed for this club, all the supporters were with me, also during the worst moment with the injury coming back.

“I am really pleased for this club, to play these kind of matches like tonight. To be going with this team to a final in Europe is a nice feeling.

“The recent results we did not perform the best but tonight the mentality was clear for everyone.

“We needed to fight a lot and to be confident playing our football. We knew all the time we were capable of coming back.”