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#Amadou #Onana #set #lengthy #layoff #ACL #injury #World #Cup">Amadou Onana set for lengthy layoff after ACL injury at World Cup Belgium midfielder Amadou Onana is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament during his side’s 4-1 World Cup round-of-16 win over the United States on Monday, according to The Athletic.
The 24-year-old was forced off in the 21st minute and was later seen on crutches with a brace around his right knee. Romelu Lukaku paid tribute to his teammate after scoring Belgium’s fourth goal in second-half stoppage time, celebrating by holding up Onana’s No. 24 shirt.
The injury rules Onana out of Belgium’s World Cup quarterfinal against Spain on Friday and is also a major setback for Aston Villa.
Villa manager Unai Emery had planned to build his midfield around Onana, Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans. The club had not been looking to strengthen in that area but is now expected to reassess its plans.
Onana joined Villa from Everton in 2024 and has made 72 appearances for the club. He featured 38 times in all competitions last season as Villa won the Europa League and qualified for the Champions League.
Published on Jul 07, 2026
Belgium midfielder Amadou Onana is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering…
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#Europa #League #final #Unai #Emery #chance #extend #remarkable #record #competition">Europa League final gives Unai Emery chance to extend remarkable record in competition
Europa League specialist Unai Emery is aiming to win the trophy for a record-extending fifth time and with a third different team.
His Aston Villa team faces Freiburg in Istanbul later on Wednesday when he can further enhance his remarkable record in the competition.
Having won Europe’s secondary trophy three years running with Sevilla from 2014-16, he then lifted it again with Villarreal in 2021.
Spot a pattern?
If his club’s fans are looking for a lucky omen, this is the third team with ‘Villa’ in its name that Emery has guided to the Europa League final and perhaps the third that he will lead to glory.
Not that the Spaniard, who has been a serial winner during his coaching career, is taking anything for granted.
READ: Arsenal crowned Premier League champion — How Arteta transformed Gunners into winners?
“I am not a ‘king’ in this competition,” he said during his pre-match news conference on Tuesday. “I am now, again, with Aston Villa in a new chapter. Everything I did is done, and of course, it’s there in that moment.
“I need to win tomorrow with the players we have now, with Aston Villa now, with the opponent we will face tomorrow now. It’s a new way, a new moment, and hopefully a new era.”
Villa, which is fourth in the Premier League and guaranteed to qualify for next season’s Champions League, is the favourite to beat a Freiburg team that is seventh in the Bundesliga and 10 years ago, was playing in Germany’s second division.
This is its first European final.
“It is very special,” Freiburg coach Julian Schuster said. “I have so much confidence in my team, and they give me that belief because there’s so much quality. I am not nervous; we have the confidence we need to play a great team and a great coach tomorrow.”
Published on May 20, 2026
Europa League specialist Unai Emery is aiming to win the trophy for a record-extending fifth time and with a third different team.
His Aston Villa team faces Freiburg in Istanbul later on Wednesday when he can further enhance his remarkable record in the competition.
Having won Europe’s secondary trophy three years running with Sevilla from 2014-16, he then lifted it again with Villarreal in 2021.
Spot a pattern?
If his club’s fans are looking for a lucky omen, this is the third team with ‘Villa’ in its name that Emery has guided to the Europa League final and perhaps the third that he will lead to glory.
Not that the Spaniard, who has been a serial winner during his coaching career, is taking anything for granted.
READ: Arsenal crowned Premier League champion — How Arteta transformed Gunners into winners?
“I am not a ‘king’ in this competition,” he said during his pre-match news conference on Tuesday. “I am now, again, with Aston Villa in a new chapter. Everything I did is done, and of course, it’s there in that moment.
“I need to win tomorrow with the players we have now, with Aston Villa now, with the opponent we will face tomorrow now. It’s a new way, a new moment, and hopefully a new era.”
Villa, which is fourth in the Premier League and guaranteed to qualify for next season’s Champions League, is the favourite to beat a Freiburg team that is seventh in the Bundesliga and 10 years ago, was playing in Germany’s second division.
This is its first European final.
“It is very special,” Freiburg coach Julian Schuster said. “I have so much confidence in my team, and they give me that belief because there’s so much quality. I am not nervous; we have the confidence we need to play a great team and a great coach tomorrow.”
Published on May 20, 2026
Europa League specialist Unai Emery is aiming to win the trophy for a record-extending fifth…
Sports news
#Huge #mistake #Aston #Villa #coach #Emery #hits #VAR #Europa #League #loss #Nottingham #Forest">‘Huge mistake’: Aston Villa coach Emery hits out at VAR after Europa League loss to Nottingham Forest
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery was scathing in his criticism of the Video Assistant Referee’s (VAR) decisions in the Europa League first-leg tie against Nottingham Forest, taking issue with a tackle by Eliot Anderson.
Anderson made a sliding tackle on Ollie Watkins in which he won the ball but caught the English forward’s ankle with his studs, with VAR reviewing the incident briefly before clearing it.
“It’s a clear red card – I don’t understand why the VAR is not calling the referee because it’s so clear,” Emery said after Thursday’s match, which Forest won 1-0 courtesy of a Chris Wood penalty in the 71st minute.
“And it’s very, very important. It’s a huge, huge mistake. VAR is responsible. The referee – fantastic, fantastic job, 10 out of 10. I appreciated how he managed the match for 90 minutes.
MATCH REPORT | Forest beats Villa in Europa League semifinal first-leg
“But I watched it back – wow. Huge. He could break his ankle. Wow, VAR – where are you? Please. It is your responsibility, we are professionals. You are doing very bad work because it was so clear for everybody. He could break his ankle.”
Despite the severity of the challenge Watkins played the full 90 minutes, a boost for Villa’s Champions League hopes for next season as this season comes to a close.
Watkins is Villa’s top goalscorer this season, netting 15 goals so far in all competitions.
Villa, currently fifth in the Premier League table, faces relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Published on May 01, 2026
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery was scathing in his criticism of the Video Assistant Referee’s (VAR) decisions in the Europa League first-leg tie against Nottingham Forest, taking issue with a tackle by Eliot Anderson.
Anderson made a sliding tackle on Ollie Watkins in which he won the ball but caught the English forward’s ankle with his studs, with VAR reviewing the incident briefly before clearing it.
“It’s a clear red card – I don’t understand why the VAR is not calling the referee because it’s so clear,” Emery said after Thursday’s match, which Forest won 1-0 courtesy of a Chris Wood penalty in the 71st minute.
“And it’s very, very important. It’s a huge, huge mistake. VAR is responsible. The referee – fantastic, fantastic job, 10 out of 10. I appreciated how he managed the match for 90 minutes.
MATCH REPORT | Forest beats Villa in Europa League semifinal first-leg
“But I watched it back – wow. Huge. He could break his ankle. Wow, VAR – where are you? Please. It is your responsibility, we are professionals. You are doing very bad work because it was so clear for everybody. He could break his ankle.”
Despite the severity of the challenge Watkins played the full 90 minutes, a boost for Villa’s Champions League hopes for next season as this season comes to a close.
Watkins is Villa’s top goalscorer this season, netting 15 goals so far in all competitions.
Villa, currently fifth in the Premier League table, faces relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Published on May 01, 2026
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery was scathing in his criticism of the Video Assistant Referee’s…
