Emery: We played a great match

Unai Emery was delighted after Aston Villa overcame Ajax to reach the last eight of the Europa Conference League.

The head coach had eyed improvements from his team after their first leg display in Amsterdam and his players certainly delivered them at Villa Park.

The hosts held a half-time lead via Ollie Watkins before blowing their opponents away with three further goals in the second half.

“We’re quarter-finalists and I’m very happy because we enjoyed it here with our supporters in Villa Park,” Emery said.

“We were competitive in the first leg there, we got a draw and that was very important for the second leg. We were speaking after our analysis of the match we played there that we needed more, and we did it.

“We did a very good match, playing tactically very seriously and being organised and disciplined. We tried to impose our quality with the players and progressively we got better.

“We scored the second goal and were dominating the match. We had more chances than them and then the red card made it more difficult for them. We created more chances and scored four goals.

“Overall I’m very happy because we’ve focused very well on these two matches against Ajax, respecting them and imposing ourselves like we did.”

In addition to his pride at the players’ performance, the Spaniard was pleased with how his team connected with the home crowd.

Villa can now look forward to the quarter-final draw on Friday.

He said: “I always want to enjoy it here in Villa Park and we are feeling strong and comfortable here with our supporters.

“We need their support and we need to transmit them our positive energy, and today we did it.

“Now we have to be excited and motivated, every supporter, in this competition, like the players, coaches and staff.”