Aston Villa’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Salzburg has boosted belief that Unai Emery can guide a deep Europa League run, according to Morgan Rogers. Villa overturned a 2-0 deficit at Villa Park to secure
second place in the league-stage standings, finishing behind Lyon only on goal difference after Thursday’s comeback.
Rogers, who began the fightback with Villa’s first goal, feels Emery’s track record gives Villa an edge over their Europa League rivals. The forward believes that combination of tactical experience and strong form at home can help the team challenge any opponent when the round of 16 starts.
The manager’s history in the Europa League is unmatched. Emery has claimed the trophy four times, more than any other coach. Since the competition’s rebrand in 2009-10, Emery has taken charge of 101 Europa League matches, also a record, giving Villa an experienced guide through the tournament’s later stages.
Rogers highlighted how that experience feeds into every step of Villa’s campaign. "He knows how to get his way through a competition, especially this one," Rogers told TNT Sports of Emery. "To have him in our corner, guiding us through, it is going to be massive. Ultimately, it's down to us and how we apply ourselves, how we take each game, how we try and win games. And in each round, there are so many good teams in the competition, so it's about taking each game as it comes and being at our best. "
Villa’s record at Villa Park in UEFA competitions has backed up that belief. Since the start of the 2023-24 season, Villa have won 14 of 16 home fixtures in major UEFA tournaments, more than any other side. The club’s resilience has also shown, with the Salzburg comeback only their third European win after trailing by two goals.
The previous occasions came in a 3-2 victory over Stromsgodset in the 1998 UEFA Cup and a 3-2 success against Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 Champions League. Attention now turns to the draw, where Villa will face one of Crvena Zvezda, Celta Vigo, PAOK or Lille in the Europa League round of 16, with a place in Istanbul the target.
The road to Istanbul #UEL pic.twitter.com/QFRJ7tIl00UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) January 29, 2026
Tyrone Mings completed the turnaround against Salzburg with Villa’s second goal, before Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba stepped off the bench to hit a late winner in front of the Holte End. The decisive strike arrived three minutes from time and capped a notable night for the 19-year-old forward in European competition.
At 19 years and 119 days, Jimoh-Aloba became the fourth-youngest player to score for Villa in Europe. Only Nathan Delfouneso, Darius Vassell and Mark Walters were younger when they found the net for the club in UEFA matches, placing Jimoh-Aloba among elite company within Villa’s youth graduates.
| Player | Age at first European goal |
|---|---|
| Nathan Delfouneso | 17 years, 319 days |
| Darius Vassell | 18 years, 94 days |
| Mark Walters | 18 years, 154 days |
| Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba | 19 years, 119 days |
Mings praised the young forward’s impact after the match, stressing the work done away from matchdays. "It's a lovely moment for Jimoh. We see all the hard work he puts in day in, day out. The manager is really hard on him, as are the rest of us, because we know his potential. It was just a lovely moment for him. " Villa now move forward in the Europa League with Emery’s experience, strong home form and emerging talents all contributing to growing confidence.
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