Villa's nearly men entering their defining moment

Breaking news from the world of sport: Villa's nearly men entering their defining momentImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Aston Villa beat Bologna in the Europa League quarter-finals to set up a semi-final against Nottingham ForestByNick Mashiter Football reporterPublished9 minutes agoAston Villa's squad are entering a defining moment under manager Unai Emery. Trailing 1-0 going into Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest (20:00 BST), a 30-year trophy drought hangs around the club's neck. There is a growing sense it is this squad's last chance to end it.

Nine of the current squad started Emery's first game - a 3-1 win over Manchester United in November 2022 - with John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara coming off the bench. Six of those players started against Forest last week, Villa suffering a first-leg defeat. Stability has underpinned Villa's success under former Arsenal boss Emery, who took over when the club were 14th and three points above the relegation zone.

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But as they stumble just before the biggest game of his reign, has Emery taken this group as far as he can? Figure caption, Spurs propel themselves out of relegation zone with win over VillaVilla's wretched 2-1 home defeat by Tottenham on Sunday - a third consecutive loss - did not give them the ideal platform, even if Emery made eight changes. It underlined the lack of depth within the squad, with Emi Martinez, Matty Cash, Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers viewed as the only first-choice starters in Sunday's XI.

Emery, though, has earned admiration from at least two fellow Premier League managers who have been privately impressed with the decisions he made - a clear focus on his biggest game at the club - and how he stuck to the strategy. He has won the Europa League a record four times - three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal - and with minds focused those close to Emery expect to see a different performance to Sunday's surrender. "We are improving, including myself, and we will have more challenges to set for the present or future," said Emery, when asked if this is the last chance for this squad to win something.

"I don't think tomorrow is the last opportunity for us or anyone. The players are enjoying the process we are doing and they are aware about how difficult football is, and this is the greatest moment we are having in the last three years. "It will break nothing about how we are thinking and trying to improve.

"Even if Emery believes they can push for honours beyond this season and with Champions League football - Villa should finish in the Premier League's top five regardless of their European fate - changes are expected. The squad needs to be refreshed and selling players is the easiest way to comply with regulations - with England forward Morgan Rogers their biggest asset. There is a realisation a significant number need to be recycled and Emery has been aware since the opening month of the season what needs to be done.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.