Aston Villa drawing on history while aiming to conclude trophy shortage in Europa League final

Unai Emerys team travel to Istanbul with history in their sights in their first major European final for 44 years.

Villa famously defied the odds to shock Bayern Munich in the 1982 European Cup final thanks to Peter Withes clinical finish.

Looking to emulate Withes celebrated moment Villa striker Ollie Watkins said he would seek out footage of the winner against Bayern as he prepared to face German underdogs Freiburg at the Besiktas Stadium.

"I have not actually seen Withes winner but I am going to. I am going to look back at it in these next few days before the final as inspiration" Watkins said.

"I think Peter is a legend. I have met him quite a few times. He came into the training ground last week to watch.

"It is amazing that he can do that and that we can have a legend around the place."

The decades since Bayern were beaten on that golden evening in Rotterdam have not always been kind to Villa.

They were twice relegated to the second tier in 1987 and 2016 and have lost all four of their domestic final appearances since defeating Leeds to win the 1996 EFL Cup.

But Villa have been revived by the astute Emery reaching the Champions League quarter finals last term and climbing to fourth in the Premier League with one game left this season.

Their run to the final has earned the royal seal of approval from loyal Villa fan Prince William.

William joined the ecstatic celebrations at Villa Park during the 4 to 0 semi final second leg rout of Nottingham Forest.

Now Emery can cement his status as the king of the Europa League by winning the competition for a fifth time.

The Spaniard is preparing for his sixth Europa League final after winning the competition three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal as well as finishing as a runner up with Arsenal in 2019.

'A new level'

Emerys men travel to Turkey in a buoyant mood after sealing a place in next seasons Champions League with a 4 to 2 win against Liverpool on Friday.

In their first final since losing to Manchester City in the 2020 EFL Cup showpiece Villa will be firm favourites against first time European finalists Freiburg who are seventh in the Bundesliga.

"Playing for a trophy playing at the high level we are now is bringing us a lot of very good moments" Emery said.

"I am feeling so comfortable in the level we are. For the supporters try to understand we are moving forward to a new level. I can feel they are happy."

Emery has proved an inspired appointment since taking over in 2022 when Villa were languishing just three points above the relegation zone.

Beaten by Olympiacos in the semi finals of the UEFA Conference League in 2023/2024 Emery has the club on the brink of shedding their tag as nearly men.

The 54 year old admitted that the painful 6 to 2 aggregate loss to the Greek side was a key moment in Villas transformation into trophy contenders.

"When we lost in the semi final to Olympiacos it was a process we needed to get to the moment we are in now" he said.

"Everything we are doing is going to plan. It makes sense because to be in Europe is about being consistent.

"Now the objective is to keep it going for a long time keep the level as high as possible with our standards and our ambition."

The meticulous Emery has been a perfect match for a club that carried the word Prepared under the badge on their shirts for many years.

Following in the footsteps of Tony Barton the manager who masterminded their 1982 triumph would ensure Emery is woven into Villas history forever.