Nottingham Forest are facing an anxious wait over the fitness of star playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White ahead of their crucial Europa League semi-final second leg at Aston Villa. Having secured a 1-0 victory in the first leg, the club are dreaming of the final, but the midfielder's significant head injury against Chelsea leaves his participation at Villa Park in major doubt.
Chelsea are now out of the race for a top-five finish in the Premier League, but a narrow and unlikely route to the Champions League still exists. The Blues must climb to sixth in the Premier League - and hope Aston Villa deliver a crucial favour in Europe.
Manchester United are planning a significant restructure of their midfield as they look to future-proof the squad. The Red Devils have reportedly identified two of the Premier League's rising stars, West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes and Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, as primary targets to lead the club into a new era.
Louis Saha has described Jadon Sancho as "the most disappointing signing in Manchester United history". The former Red Devils striker says the £73 million ($99m) winger’s failure to replicate his Borussia Dortmund form at Old Trafford remains a "mystery".
Real Madrid have reportedly added Aston Villa manager Unai Emery to their shortlist of candidates to take over the reins at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Spanish giants are beginning their search for a successor to Alvaro Arbeloa, whose tenure appears to be coming to an end as Los Blancos face back-to-back seasons without a major trophy.
Conor Gallagher heaped praise on Roberto De Zerbi after Tottenham hauled themselves out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win at Aston Villa. The English midfielder claimed that "every player trusts" De Zerbi already, with the Italian coach having overseen two wins, one draw and one defeat in his first four games since replacing Igor Tudor.
The Buccaneers' youth product has been warned that his place in the Bafana setup for the upcoming World Cup is far from guaranteed. After a difficult domestic campaign that saw Burnley relegated from the Premier League, a former national team boss believes the striker must prove himself all over again.
Manchester United have emerged as shock contenders to sign Donyell Malen, a player who famously struggled to make an impact in the Premier League with Aston Villa. Despite failing to secure a regular starting spot under Unai Emery before being shipped out in January, the Dutch international has seen his stock soar during a prolific stint in Serie A.
Roberto De Zerbi has launched a passionate defence of his squad's survival hopes, insisting that those who complain about bad luck are simply "losers". The Tottenham boss delivered a defiant four-minute monologue ahead of a crucial trip to Aston Villa, demanding his players show maximum commitment in their battle to avoid the drop.
Morgan Gibbs-White admitted he was stunned by an incredible save from Emi Martinez during Nottingham Forest’s Europa League semi-final win over Aston Villa. The Forest playmaker could only watch in disbelief as the Villa goalkeeper produced a remarkable stop at the City Ground.
Manchester United legend Gary Neville has identified three dream transfer targets for the club this summer, including Bayern Munich's Harry Kane. Neville also named a more "realistic" trio of potential signings for the Red Devils as they strive to compete for the biggest trophies next season.
Coventry are back in the Premier League for the first time in 25 years, with GOAL being told why the likes of Aston Villa, Everton and Brighton will struggle to compete with Sky Blues boss Frank Lampard on the transfer front. Established top-flight outfits may have more money to spend, but Joe Cole believes a “marquee name” at the CBS Arena will help to attract the kind of talent that may prove out of reach to others.
Jack Grealish has found an unlikely ally in former Aston Villa teammate Gabby Agbonlahor after images surfaced of the playmaker appearing to be asleep at a Manchester rooftop bar. The England international, currently sidelined with a season-ending injury, has been the subject of intense scrutiny following his latest afternoon outing.
Morgan Rogers has been told that he can “go higher”, amid renewed transfer talk at Aston Villa, with Henri Lansbury telling GOAL why the classy England international playmaker is capable of “stepping on again”. Rogers has proved himself in the Premier League, while also gracing European competition, and could take on a new challenge outside of his homeland at some stage.
To paraphrase the great Homer Simpson, it is not only easy to criticise, but fun, too. It is quite simple to sit and judge from this ivory tower, but hey, that's football after all, merely a game of opinions. Being a Premier League manager must be one of the loneliest gigs in the world, particularly when results are wayward and your job security is the subject of international speculation.
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery produced a classic deadpan moment during his pre-match duties that left midfielder Youri Tielemans struggling to keep a straight face. As the Spaniard shut down questions regarding potential suspensions, his blunt delivery sparked a wave of laughter in the media room ahead of their Europa League quarter-final second leg clash against Italian side Bologna.
Aston Villa
