The Albany Gazette - Watkins salutes Emery after Villa reach Europa final

Emery's side produced a memorable performance in the semi-final second leg at Villa Park as goals from Watkins and Emiliano Buendia put them in control before John McGinn's brace completed the rout.

Chasing their first major trophy since 1996 and the first European prize in 44 years, Villa will face Bundesliga club Freiburg in the final in Istanbul on May 20.

Villa will be firm favourites, in part because of the presence of Europa League specialist Emery, who has won the competition four times -- three with Sevilla and one at Villarreal -- and is in the final for a sixth time.

"There is no better manager to get us prepared for this game and obviously take us into the final as well. His track record speaks for itself," Watkins said.

"We are in a great position, but we need to go there and win now."

Villa captain McGinn added: "He's experienced a lot more European semi-finals than us. He's been amazing."

Villa were beaten in their previous three matches in all competitions, including a 1-0 first leg defeat at Forest and a 2-1 loss to lowly Tottenham on Sunday.

Emery's team, largely comprised of reserves, were booed off after the Tottenham defeat, but Watkins said they were already focused on beating Forest.

"After the performance against Tottenham, everyone's mind was on this game," the England forward said.

"Everyone worked so hard. It is hard to pick a man of the match. We were all amazing."

Villa famously stunned Bayern Munich in the 1982 European Cup final, but they will be favourites rather than underdogs in the second continental final in their history.

"I felt the nerves this morning, but now it's about embracing it. You see the guys in 1982, the cup winners in the 90s," McGinn said.

"Tonight was one of the best performances from Villa I've seen in a long time.

"The club's been through some massive lows, but such a massive group deserves success. Hopefully we'll be the ones to bring it."

(F.Allen--TAG)