Paul Merson claims the Europa League semi-final between Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest feels like the final. Nottingham Forest leads 1-0 after a penalty from Chris Wood, putting them close to their first European final in 46 years.
Key points
Paul Merson compares the semi-final to a final
Nottingham Forest leads the tie 1-0
Chris Wood scored a second-half penalty
Forest aims for their first European final in 46 years
Winner qualifies for next season's Champions League
Nottingham ForestAston VillaEuropa LeagueChampions League
Paul Merson says Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest's Europa League semi-final feels like the competition's final.
Nottingham Forest seized the advantage in the tie after Chris Wood's second-half penalty put Vitor Pereira's side just 90 minutes away from a first European final in 46 years as they won the first leg 1-0.
And with either Braga, who hold a 2-1 lead from first leg, or Freiburg to come in the final in Istanbul on May 20, Merson thinks it is winner takes all between Villa and Forest to win the Europa League and seal a place in next season's Champions League.
Read on for Merson's full preview of Thursday's crucial Europa League clash...
I was surprised Aston Villa rested so many on Sunday against Spurs, only because they could have wrapped up Champions League qualification with a win.
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Premier League highlights from the match between Aston Villa and Spurs.
Highlights from the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur
They could have been nine points ahead of Bournemouth with three games remaining and with Bournemouth's fixtures, I felt it would have been all done and dusted.
They still have a chance to wrap things up with the game against Burnley, but mess that game up and then it might get a bit tricky for Villa, with Liverpool and City to come.
However, for me, the most important game is against Nottingham Forest on Thursday in the Europa League.
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'Win at Villa and Forest have big opportunity to get into Champions League'
Igor Jesus
Image:
Igor Jesus scored in Nottingham Forest's big win at Chelsea
This game feels like the cup final for me. It has the feeling of winner takes all with either Braga or Freiburg to come in the final.
That means the winner on Thursday could well be booking themselves a spot in the Champions League.
It makes it a huge game for both sides, but especially for Forest with Villa having that back up option of qualifying for the Champions League through the league.
I was convinced Aston Villa would beat Forest over two legs, especially after watching the game in the league between the two at the City Ground a few weeks ago. I thought Villa destroyed them and were by far the better team.
Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood scores from the penalty spot against Aston Villa
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Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood scores from the penalty spot against Aston Villa
However, Forest won the first leg and I saw them at Chelsea, who were dreadful, but they were really good at Stamford Bridge. They are hitting their straps at just the right time.
They were outstanding against Chelsea and that wasn't even their first-choice XI. Then they brought on five first-team players and they were outstanding. They played with pace and tempo, and they moved the ball around really well. They are playing with a lot of confidence right now.
Because of that, now I'd be shocked if Aston Villa went through after watching the two teams in the last couple of days.
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Chelsea 0-3 Nottingham Forest | Premier League highlights
FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Chelsea’s match against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League
I know Chelsea were poor but you've still got to go to Stamford Bridge and win. They have hit a real purple patch and full credit to Vitor Pereira.
I love the fact they play with two strikers and teams haven't got a clue of how to cope with it.
Defenders nowadays have played all their careers against just one striker, with one marking and one dropping off. But all of a sudden they come up against two strikers and they haven't got a clue. They both have to mark someone and stay occupied.
It's really blowing teams apart and I love it.
'Emery's a winner - he's focused on winning Europa League'
Unai Emery's Aston Villa were beaten 1-0 by Nottingham Forest in the Europa League semi-final first leg
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Merson defended Unai Emery's decision to make seven changes in Villa's defeat to Spurs
In defence of Unai Emery and his team selection at Spurs, football is about winning trophies.
He's a manager that wants to win trophies. That's why he did what he did against Spurs and I can't knock it.
At the end of the day, do you want to finish fifth and get Champions League just to be knocked out early on in the competition next season, or do you want to finish sixth, win the Europa League and qualify that way.
I'd rather win a trophy and so would Emery.
That's the problem with football right now. Everyone wants to be playing in the Champions League but it is not really about winning trophies anymore.
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That's why I like Emery. He wants to win. He wants to win the Europa League.
I'm sure they will get over the line and qualify for the Champions League through the league, and fair play for that, but Emery would rather win the Europa League than finish fifth.
He proved that against Spurs.
At the end of your career, you want to win trophies. You should want to win trophies.
You don't want to be sitting with your grandkids once you've retired having to tell them you didn't win anything but you finished fifth and qualified for the Champions League! Next question: 'Did you win the Champions League?'
'Of course we didn't'.
You want to be able to tell them you won trophies, you won the Europa League - the second biggest European trophy you can win - and what a night it was.
That is all the players should care about. That is Emery's mindset.
