A long time to wait
Aston Villa are featuring in just their second major European final, having won 1-0 against Bayern Munich in the 1982 European Cup final.
Only Manchester City have ever had a longer gap between their first two finals (1970 – 2021).
A first major final
Freiburg are into their first ever major European final, becoming the 16th German side to feature in one.
They are the first German final debutants since FC Schalke 04 in the 1996-97 Uefa Cup, who beat Internazionale on penalties after a 1-1 aggregate draw over two legs.
Villa vs German clubs
Aston Villa faced German teams twice in last season’s Champions League, beating both Bayern Munich (1-0) and RB Leipzig (3-2).
They were last beaten by German opponents in 2008-09 in the Uefa Cup, losing 3-1 to Hamburg.
Villa to manage the pressure
More from Emery who spoke about his team learning to handle the pressure of big games.
“Structure is tactical, structure is individual, how we must respond in the moment we are. Like now for example, one final, but now it’s a new experience we will have,” Emery said.
“As well, it’s very important in our structure, how we are managing our emotions. We played a lot of matches and a lot of emotions, and the pressure is here as well.
“But we must try to understand the pressure, like something positive, not negative. And the pressure is, when you are playing for something important.”
Pre-match thoughts from Unai Emery
“Three years ago the semi-final of the Conference League, last year we played the quarter-final of the Champions League and this year the [Europa League] final; we have played enough matches in Europe,” said Aston Villa’s boss.
“Those experiences are very important for us, how we are playing this year, how we played last year, the first leg, second leg, different rounds and now it is a new chapter to play the final.
“This is a new challenge we have together. We are confident. The players are here because they deserve it.”
Everything I did, is done
Unai Emery says that his past wins in the Europa League don’t matter as he has yet to win the competition with Aston Villa.
“I am not a king in this competition. I am now with Aston Villa in a new chapter and everything I did is done,” Emery explained at the pre-match press conference yesterday.
“It’s there in that moment, but with it I am not winning tomorrow. I need to win tomorrow with the players we have now, with Aston Villa now, with the opponent we face tomorrow.
“So it’s a new way, a new moment and hopefully a new era. I don’t want to speak a lot about the thing we did before.
“Now, this year, and the matches we played before in the Conference League, they are showing the capacity to play at a high level.”
Unai Emery rejects Europa League ‘king’ tag as Aston Villa chase first major trophy in 30 years
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has downplayed his formidable reputation in the Europa League as his side prepares for Wednesday’s final, aiming to secure their first major trophy in three decades.
Emery, who has been hailed as a specialist after winning the Europa League four times with Sevilla and Villarreal, insists his past glories will count for nothing as Villa seek to cap a memorable season. The club has impressed in Europe under the Spaniard, reaching the Conference League semi-finals in 2024 before losing to eventual winners PSG in the Champions League quarter-finals last year.
Emery rejects Europa League ‘king’ tag as Villa chase first major trophy in 30 years
Emery has won the competition four times, and is one game away from a fifth triumphMike Jones20 May 2026 18:00
Can Freiburg defeat Aston Villa?
The Freiburg manager added: “I think our big strength this year was that we still had to focus on our tasks, so it doesn’t matter against whom we play.
“It’s important to have this belief in our strength and just focus on the match plan and play with a lot of discipline.
“These are the points when we get on the pitch tomorrow, so we will have our chances.”
‘You can’t plan this journey’
More from Schuster who spoke about Freiburg’s journey to reach the final.
“You can’t plan this journey that we had,” he said.
“It’s important to think from task to task and from round to round. We really deserve it because we had some really good performances over the last rounds.
“It’s absolutely amazing for me, for every one of us, and also for this great football club to be here with so many supporters. It’s really special.”
Pre-match thoughts from Julian Schuster
Freiburg’s head coach spoke about what it is like to challenge of the Europa League title and possibly win a first major trophy for the German club.
“It’s already really special. We do have to mention that we want to take that final step and not just be content to reach a final,” he said.
“We are actually really motivated to win it. The sense of support and solidarity in [Freiburg] is stronger than ever. It’s great.
“That’s the power of football, that it can captivate so many people and bring them together. It’s a really nice feeling and we’re enjoying the moment.”
Mike Jones20 May 2026 17:42NewerOlder