Aston Villa: Europa League semi-final represents squad's defining moment

Aston Villa beat Bologna in the Europa League quarter-finals to set up a semi-final against Nottingham Forest

Aston 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.