Celebrations get underway as Aston Villa seal Champions League spot

Emiliano Martinez led Aston Villa‘s wild celebrations in Birmingham on Tuesday evening after the club sealed their place in next season’s Champions League.

Tottenham‘s 2-0 defeat against Manchester City guaranteed Villa fourth place in the Premier League and a subsequent spot in Europe’s elite competition, while also handing City the advantage in the title race heading into the final day of the season.

While there were groans in north London as Arsenal‘s control on the title was relinquished, there was ecstatic celebrations underway in the Midlands at Villa’s end-of-season dinner.

The whole Villa squad and support staff were present at the event, with chaos erupting inside the venue as the full-time whistle blew at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

Villa manager Unai Emery created history by guiding the former European champions to the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery roared with delight as his side qualified for the Champions League

Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez sprayed multiple bottles of champagne in celebration at the club’s end-of-season dinner

The Spaniard was evidently delighted as news reached him that they had secured their place in the Champions League alongside Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool.

Upon it being announced to those in attendance that Villa would be playing amongst Europe’s elite next season, Emery – sat amongst his coaching staff – raised his arms in the air and roared with relief.

Should Spurs have beaten Man City then it would have made for a nervy final day after Villa had previously spurned the chance to beat Liverpool on Monday that would have been enough to conclude the top four race before Tuesday.

Emery’s celebration was mute in comparison to Argentine goalkeeper Martinez, who was quick to pop the cork off a champagne bottle and began spraying it on his team-mates.

Martinez looked emotional as the team celebrated and wiped his eyes after getting champagne in them. The 31-year-old now has a chance to add a Champions League title to his trophy cabinet alongside the World Cup.

The former Arsenal shot-stopper continued to play the role of chief mischief-maker when he crept up on Emery and doused him with alcohol. 

Villa defender Diego Carlos also joined in spraying champagne, possibly feeling reprieved after missing a huge goalscoring chance against Liverpool the previous night.

Youri Telemans, Pau Torres and other Villa stars also beamed as their triumph was confirmed.

Martinez (right) sprays champagne along with Diego Carlos (left) after the club’s qualification for the Champions League was confirmed

Emery later reacted to Villa’s achievement, telling the crowd at the dinner: ‘Thank you so much, it is a very special day today. It is our dream.

‘We started the season to get here and we were thinking it would be the most difficult. We focused on the Premier League strongly, with injured players at Newcastle losing 5-1.

Villa defender Pau Torres was amongst the chaos as players, staff and fans celebrated wildly

‘Always the injured players were in our minds but the team always they were focusing and trying to commit strongly to get the oddity we had and today to get it is fantastic really.

‘To play Champions League after the Premier League is the best. You can play in England against the best teams in the world and when you play Champions League you are playing best teams in other countries.

‘We all know the history at Aston Villa but even in Champions League we knew to dream to get it and to win the Champions League like Aston Villa once did. If we are there it is more easy than if we are not,’ he added. 

Villa travel to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday for their final Premier League fixture of the season.