Aston Villa qualify for Champions League last 16 with thumping 4-2 win over Celtic

National World - LocalTV

Birmingham World reporter Charlie Haffenden reacts after Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic in the UEFA Champions League, with a hat-trick from Morgan Rogers and a first UCL goal for Ollie Watkins.

Transcript

00:00Aston Villa are through to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, after securing an 8th place finish in the league phase.

00:09The 4-2 victory over Celtic, enough to claim that 8th spot.

00:13A hat-trick for Morgan Rodgers under the lights, he is the hat-trick hero.

00:16And Ollie Watkins as well, scoring his first ever goal in the Champions League.

00:20It was 2-0 within 5 minutes, Rodgers finishing off a great team goal for the first one with the tap-in.

00:26The second one, an even better strike from about 15 yards, deflected off a Celtic defender and into the top right-hand corner.

00:33Villa were in control, there was then an injury from Matty Cash unfortunately, disrupted the rhythm a bit.

00:38Celtic got back into the game, a bit of a surprise.

00:41Ademida scoring two goals in three minutes to round off the first half.

00:45Villa were stunned going into the interval, but they responded very well in that second half.

00:50Ollie Watkins, he made it 3-2 in the 60th minute, his first ever Champions League goal.

00:54Jacob Ramsey with some fine work in the build-up.

00:58John McGinn as well, also crucial.

01:00Driving run through the centre and then uses low centre of gravity on the half-turn to break away from the defender.

01:06Playing that pass through to Ramsey.

01:08Watkins could have made it 4-2 when he won a penalty from Auston Trusty's foul.

01:12But Watkins slipped when he took his penalty and skied it over the bar.

01:16He kind of right-foot-left-footed it, as you would on the playground as a kid.

01:20He is blaming the grounds on Instagram after that one.

01:23In the end, it didn't matter that Watkins missed his penalty as he set up Morgan Rodgers right at the end to complete his hat-trick.

01:30What a fantastic night, what a fantastic result for Unai Emery's men,

01:34who will play either Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta, Sporting Lisbon or Club Brugge in that last 60.

01:41Of course, Dortmund and Atalanta are the most likely opponents of that bunch.

01:46Dortmund potentially the most exciting away trip, given it's the big yellow wall.

01:50Atalanta, though, potentially the better team at the moment under Gasperini.

01:54What a system he's churned up.

01:56And as well, winning the Europa League last season, an incredible achievement for them.

02:00Whatever is in store for Villa, at least they have avoided those two extra games in the play-off rounds.

02:05They are through to that last 16, an amazing achievement.

02:08Away from the game itself, and well, transfer speculation taking centre stage.

02:13Obviously, I think the focus deserves to be on Villa's achievements in the Champions League.

02:18But John Duran, why we were sat here, well, he was sat on the bench, actually, about 30 yards to my right.

02:24The news broke from Fabrizio Romano that his medical has been booked ahead of a move to Al Masur in the Saudi Pro League.

02:31Around £64.5m is the upfront fee with add-ons to take that even higher.

02:36Unai Emery kind of admitted in the press conference that it was happening.

02:40He said he didn't know until it was done.

02:43But he later admitted that the player wanted to move and that the money was right.

02:47So, unfortunately, Duran will be leaving the club, but it is a decent fee that Villa will receive.

02:52Oli Watkins, well, there was a bid from Arsenal for him earlier this week.

02:56Villa turned it down and Unai Emery has since confirmed that Watkins is an important player.

03:02Villa will be keeping hold of him.

03:04However, he didn't rule out a complete, he didn't completely rule out a sale.

03:08He said any player is up for sale at the right price.

03:13Therefore, if Arsenal or any other teams return the big enough bid, they might be able to get Watkins.

03:17But considering Duran is now on the way out, I just don't see that one happening.

03:21Anyway, a chaotic day, a very exciting night for Villa under the lights in the Champions League.

03:28What an achievement to make it through.

03:30I'm sure Villa fans will be very excited to see who they'll play next.

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