Emery: I'm not a king, we all are.

Aston Villa coach Unai Emery said after winning the Europa League trophy that he asked his players to show desire and seriousness in the competition and that they did so.

Aston Villa won the Europa League title last night, after defeating Freiburg 3-0 in the final in Istanbul at Besiktas Park.

"This is really something fantastic. This year we played very seriously. Focused. I told the players that we need desire in this competition, seriousness, to show on the pitch that they are protagonists. And they did it. This final is confirmation that we are progressing," said Emery.

This is Emery's fifth Europa League trophy, after winning it three times with Sevilla (2014, 2015 and 2016), while he won it with Villarreal in 2021.

"Every time I have been successful in this competition I have needed good players. I am very grateful to the players, they follow our ambitions, they are the protagonists on the pitch. That is why I do not feel like a king in this competition. I feel really grateful, together we are kings," Emery said.

This is Aston Villa's first major European trophy since 1982, when they won the European Club Championship title.

"After the club won the European Cup in 1982, this was something they were missing - the fans and the trophy. Winning this trophy makes us so happy, but we will not stop," Emery pointed out.

Aston Villa captain John McGinn said the night in Istanbul was the proudest night of his career.

"With this coach at the helm, anything is possible... The pride I felt at the 3-0 score with ten minutes to go is something I can't describe," he said.

Aston Villa has one more game left until the end of the season, away against Manchester City, in the final round of the Premier League.