Unai Emery laughs off ‘angry’ reaction from Aston Villa star after UEFA Europa League triumph - 'This is his competitive way'

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Aston Villa manager Unai Emery revealed to TNT Sports that one of his star players was "angry" with him in the second half of the UEFA Europa League final triumph against Freiburg.

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Villa lifted the club's first major European trophy since 1982 following a convincing 3-0 victory over the Bundesliga outfit on Wednesday night in Istanbul.

It was also the fifth time that Emery had won the Europa League trophy after triumphs with Sevilla, Villarreal and Valencia.

Youri Tielemans set Villa on their way with a stunning volley in the first half before Emi Buendia produced an even better strike as the Premier League side led 2-0 at the break.

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Morgan Rogers rounded off the scoring in the second half to seal the win but Emery told TNT Sports that one of his goalscorers was "angry" with him during the match.

Buendia was visibly frustrated when he was taken off for Jadon Sancho after 81 minutes, but Emery claimed the reaction was typical of his "competitive" mindset.

"He’s just very, very competitive. Even when I changed him, he was angry," the Villa boss told TNT Sports while laughing.

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"He was a doubt [for the final] because he had a small kick. I spoke with him this morning and asked if he was okay and 100%, and he said, 'Yes, of course.' So I said play.

"I changed him [in the second half] and he was angry, but this is his competitive way, so I understood."

Buendia had gathered himself by the time he spoke in his post-match press conference, claiming his goal was the best of his career.

"Ranking my [goal]? Top one. 100%," he said. "In this kind of game, helping the team to win a trophy for this club after many years, has to be top one, so I'm very happy."

The 29-year-old sustained an ACL injury in August 2023, missing the entirety of the subsequent season, and he played only 19 times in 2024/25.

But he has enjoyed a superb 2025/26 campaign, scoring 11 goals and providing eight assists in 53 appearances across all competitions.

Asked if he ever believed he would become a European champion after bouncing back from his serious injury, Buendia said: "Of course. I think if I could send a message to anyone it's believe, trust yourself, work as hard as you can, or you can feel yourself at your lowest point.

"If you believe and you trust yourself and work hard to get where you think you deserve. That's why I describe this moment as a proud moment for me."

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Buendia was awarded the player of the match award in the final but insisted the achievement was a collective one.

"The individual award is thanks to the whole team, to the team-mates, because the truth is that anyone could have won it," he added.

"Obviously, we are proud to have achieved it but happy and very proud, as I said, of this victory. Every member of this team, not just the players, all the coaching staff and all the people who work for the club deserved a night like this.

"And most of all, our fans, who were incredible today. And the truth is that it is a satisfaction to see happiness on their faces. Enjoy it and see what follows."

Villa have already secured qualification for the UEFA Champions League before Sunday's trip to Manchester City on the final day of the Premier League season.

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