Morgan Rogers 'wants to shine on the biggest stage' as Aston Villa bid for first trophy in 30 years

Villa are bidding to win a first major trophy in 30 years by lifting the UEFA Europa League.

They were beaten 1-0 in the first leg of their semi-final clash by Nottingham Forest, with the return leg at Villa Park on Thursday, May 7, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

Villa are also looking to lock up UEFA Champions League football for the second time in the past three years by securing a top-five finish in the Premier League.

They currently sit fifth, eight points clear of sixth-placed Brighton, before facing Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday evening, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

”These are the games that you want to play,” Rogers tells TNT Sports.

”The ones coming up, playing for something on the line in the Premier League and in the Europa League, it’s a task that we're looking forward to.”

Villa manager Unai Emery has said he doesn’t want the season to end with his side finishing strongly and aiming to win silverware.

Rogers seems to share that sentiment as he looks for a big finish to lead into a World Cup summer with England.

”I’m a player that wants to shine on the biggest stage, that wants to be the guy to win games of football and decide matches for the team, and that's my job,” he says.

”That's a pressure I put on myself, and these are the big moments in the big games where the team's going to need me to do my job and to step up like everyone else.

”I want to be the person to help provide that, however that may look, whether it's goals or it's assists, whether it's my defending, depending on the game, and depending on what is needed from me, I'm willing to give it all to for the team's success and to win the games to get us to our objectives of where we want to be.”

Villa are still well-placed to finish in the top five in the Premier League and will hope to make home advantage count to reach the Europa League final.

Villa's next opponents Spurs are battling Forest to avoid relegation from the Premier League and earned their first win of 2026 last time out when they beat Wolves.

Rogers says Villa will be putting last weekend's loss to Fulham quickly behind them as they look to lock up a top-five spot and win the Europa League.

”You know that there's no time to stop and there's not that many games left.

”It’s what you play football for to win trophies, win tournaments, compete at the highest level, compete at the biggest stage, and we've got a massive opportunity.”

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Watch and stream the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League semi-finals this week, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max