Yahoo News 'Cold reality' - National media react to Aston Villa Europa Conference League semi-final exit
Aston Villa's European dream was brought to a bittersweet end on Thursday as they exited the Europa Conference League against Olympiacos.
A 4-2 home defeat in last week's semi-final first leg meant there was a huge task to complete in Piraeus, however it was more of the same story for Unai Emery's men. 70 percent possession on the night, 14 attempts at goal with four on target, and it was the Greeks that ran out 2-0 winners (6-2 aggregate) via an Ayoub El Kaabi brace.
The Moroccan took his total to five strikes across the two legs as Olympiacos booked their place in this year's final against Italians Fiorentina. The season can still end on a high for Villa with Champions League qualification to wrap up via the league, but to miss out on a final like this brings with it natural disappointment.
READ MORE: Why Aston Villa must feel pride despite pain as Unai Emery's parting message speaks volumes
READ MORE: Unai Emery delivers Aston Villa Euro verdict before turning focus back to top-four finish
Here is how the UK's national media reported on the game...
The Guardian
By Ben Fisher
There is a graffiti mural in the north stand – home to the most ardent, impassioned Olympiakos supporters – that displays a mockup of Muhammad Ali standing over his opponent sandwiched between the words: “Piraeus means knock out!”
And so it proved for Aston Villa, whose European adventure came to a joyless end in the Greek port. A familiar face landed the killer blows, Ayoub El Kaabi scoring his fourth and fifth goals of the tie to earn a 6-2 aggregate win.
There were a few episodes symptomatic of a painful night for Villa, who never truly looked like overturning the two-goal deficit from a damaging first-leg defeat.
The Telegraph
By John Percy
Villa were the last Premier League team standing but ambitions of reaching a first showpiece final since 1982 were shattered in the port city of Piraeus.
Their European excursions have proved an uplifting experience, yet this was their 54th game of the season and it always felt like a hurdle too significant for Emery’s injury-ravaged squad to overcome.
Lethargic and devoid of spark, the damage from last week’s first leg was ultimately irreparable. Though inspirational goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez returned from injury, Villa were underwhelming and never looked capable of securing a magical comeback.
Sky Sports
By Joe Shread
Villa faced a daunting task in Piraeus as they tried to overturn the first-leg deficit and never truly looked like achieving it, with Unai Emery's side now winless in four games and seemingly running out of steam at just the wrong time amid a number of injuries.
Emery’s incredible record in European competition gave Villa hope despite their first-leg woes, with the manager having four Europa League titles to his name.
But Emery won't be adding a Conference League title to his collection, with [Jose Luis] Mendilibar orchestrating another highly impressive performance from his Olympiakos side.
The Daily Mail
By Tom Collomosse
All week Aston Villa had been urging supporters to keep the faith with a catchy hashtag but in the end, they came face to face with cold reality.
There will be no chance to emulate the European Cup winning heroes of 1982, after Ayoub El Kaabi’s double took Olympiacos to the Final of the Europa Conference League . Not many teams can recover from a two-goal deficit away from home in Europe, no matter how much they might #Believe.
The Sun
By Graeme Bryce
ASTON VILLA'S great European adventure was left in ruins here in Athens as England's last remaining hope finally bowed out.
The Premier League may be the greatest show on earth but there will be no English representation at any of Uefa's three showpiece finals.
Once again Moroccan hitman Ayoub El Kaabi did the damage with a deadly double, seven days after his hat-trick at Villa Park left Villa with a Mount Olympus sized mountain to scale. Even four-times Europa League winner Unai Emery couldn't prevent this Greek tragedy from playing out.
The Independent
By Jonathan Veal
Villa were eyeing a first European final since 1982 but, with the ancient Acropolis in the backdrop of the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis, their hopes are now in ruins after a 6-2 aggregate defeat.
It concluded a miserable season on the continent for Premier League sides as there is no English representative in a final for the first time since 2019-20 and Unai Emery will see this as a huge missed opportunity to win a fifth European trophy in a tournament they were favourites for.
They will hope not to be back in this third-tier competition any time soon as they can seal Champions League qualification at the weekend, which will cap an impressive season.
