UNAI EMERY, proud of Aston Villa after a “shiny match” vs. Celtic – Irvine Times

Morgan Rogers was a hat trick, while Oly Watkins also scored his first goal in the highest European race just hours after it was revealed that he was the subject of a rejected offer from Arsenal.

Victory guaranteed that a villa finished in eighth place in the league phase in its debut season in the race and therefore avoids a circle for playoff.

They will face Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund, Sporting Lisbon or Club Brugge in the next round in March.

Emery said: “This year we are very proud of our work, on our way in the Champions League, at our work last year, to get here.

“There are many strong teams to be favorites to be a contender. It is very important how we are here and how we started this way. Now we are looking forward to the road, today it was a fantastic day.

“The atmosphere was fantastic, it was a very good match. After 90 minutes more or less we played a brilliant match. “

Villa had to win and hoped that other results were gone to avoid a circle of playoff, and they looked like they would last at the end of the deal with ease, as Rogers scored twice in the opening five minutes.

But Celtic, who was guaranteed a place in the playoff circle before the start, pulled away before the break with two goals on Adam Ida in two minutes.

Watkins, however, ahead of his country forward, as he finally broke his duck in the Champions League in an hour before the third Rogers to send a villa at his death.

The defeat hurts Brandon Rogers’ side as they will play either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the playoff circle after graduating from the 21st in the league phase. Their opponent will be resolved in the draw on Friday.

But the boss of the hoops believes that his team has shown enough to give a game to one of these power houses.

“We know it’s Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the next round,” he said.

“So this will obviously be a huge challenge for us, but we build confidence at this level and show that we are a team that can play and can work well and do it really, really difficult for the best teams.

“It is clear that this is a great reward for the work that the team and the club have done. Whoever plays, they are obviously the highest level teams. “

Regarding the defeat, Rogers added: “The word that strikes me right now is pride. I think coming to a team that has been the highest level in the last few years, in the Premier League.

“Within a few minutes, they get the first goal, a quick second goal, then there is a question for you as a team, your spirit, your mentality, character, everything for you at this level, but the players continued to play.”