'Sky is the limit' - Aston Villa co-owner plots golden future

Villa co-owner Nassef Sawiris sees no limits to Villa’s ambition and potential after Wednesday’s Europa League triumph.

Boss Unai Emery led the club to a first European triumph since 1982 to end Villa’s three-decade major trophy drought in emphatic style.

Villa’s billionaire co-owners Sawiris and Wes Edens, who led a takeover in 2018, watched on from the stands in Istanbul as Germans SC Freiburg were swept aside.

The club have secured Champions League football for a second time under Emery though their Premier League form and, as head coach Emery doubled down on the club’s progress after lifting the trophy, Sawiris announced the potential is endless.

“Amazing. It means a lot,” Egyptian businessman Sawiris said.

“I can’t express myself with words. Very special.

“An eight-year ride and we saw today what hard work can do with Unai’s effort and the whole team. An amazing win.”

When the co-owner was asked what is next for the club, he replied: “(The) sky's the limit.”

Villa’s heroes returned home on Thursday with a trophy parade to take place from 4.30pm beginning at the city’s Jewellery Quarter.

Striker Ollie Watkins, Villa’s 19-goal top scorer, admitted bringing a first trophy back to Villa Park can provide inspiration for future success.

“It gives you belief,” Watkins said. “It has brought us together, really.

“The Nottingham Forest game, I think that really showed resilience and brought us together.

“It kind of showed us how much we can dig in and pull together. We’ve had so many highs and lows, close to relegation and to come back and do this now and bring a trophy back to Birmingham is special.”