Bogarde signs contract extensionpublished at 17:08 BST 7 April
17:08 BST 7 April
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Lamare Bogarde has signed a contract extension to remain at Aston Villa.
The length of his new deal has not been disclosed by the club.
The 21-year-old has been a regular in Unai Emery's matchday squads this season, making eight Premier League and four Champions League appearances so far this term.
Bogarde joined Aston Villa from Feyenoord's academy in September 2020 and has previously spent time on loan at Bristol Rovers to gain senior experience.
Opta give Villa near one-in-three chance of Champions League semispublished at 14:10 BST 7 April
14:10 BST 7 April
Image source, Opta
The Opta supercomputer has produced new predictions for the remainder of the Champions League before the quarter-final stage gets under way on Tuesday.
The model estimates the probability of each match outcome by using betting market odds and the Opta Power Rankings, external.
Favourites heading into the last 16, Liverpool were eliminated by Paris St-Germain, with Barcelona now leading the way - emerging victorious in 23.9% of simulations.
The computer has given Aston Villa a 28.7% chance of progressing past PSG and reaching the semi-finals, and just a 3.7% chance of winning the competition - the second-lowest of the eight teams remaining above Borussia Dortmund's 1.5%.
Villa's semi-final opponents, however, win the Champions League for the first time in their history in 19.3% of simulations - the second-highest behind Barcelona.
Ian: Talk about a game of two halves! In control in the first half, but should have kept on the front foot and got the third goal to kill game off. But fair play to a very good Forest team, who could have won it in the second half. Eight changes from our last game shows our strength in depth and highlights how far we have come under Unai Emery. We have kept the dream alive, with a massive game at PSG in the week ahead. Keep the faith.
Jay: Difference between the two teams was Forest had no finisher and their bench was lacking in players to change the game. Emery's substitution of Garcia actually gave them more attacking space as Axel Disasi sat back. A worthy win. Despite the number of wild shots they had in the second half, we had better quality chances to finish it, which weren't needed in the end.
Mark: Make eight changes against third in the league and come away with three points... Unai is a genius.
Emma: What momentum we have! Also, having a full squad and being able to rotate is really helping. Unai Emery is one of the best managers. Now go and do us supporters proud against PSG.
Forest fans
Michael: As Jimmy Greaves would say, it was a game of two halves. Forest set up in the first half to accommodate some injuries, but it turned out to be all wrong and Villa ruthlessly exposed that inside two minutes. The second half was exactly what you would expect from Forest and they played so much better. Too bad both strikers were out injured.
Gary: Disappointed not to take something from the game as the overall performance was good. A terrible start caused by defence changes, which ultimately cost us at least a point. I'm still positive for the remaining games and we should able to pick up enough points to qualify for Europe.
Keith: Shambolic defending yet again. We are lacking a leader. Also there are now more question marks around the goalkeeper.
Mossy: Cannot begrudge that win by Aston Villa. They are the template for how Nottingham Forest should be next season. As for the remaining games, please no more injuries!
Aston Villa's Rogers shows star quality againpublished at 21:13 BST 5 April
21:13 BST 5 April
Phil McNulty Chief football writer
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Morgan Rogers once again demonstrated his star quality and vast potential when Aston Villa needed it most in their crucial win over Nottingham Forest.
The 22-year-old is proving what a bargain Aston Villa got when they prised this uncut gem away from Middlesbrough in February 2024, in a deal that could eventually be worth £15m.
With speculation about Rogers' development catching the eye of other clubs, that fee looks a snip now - although Villa will have no intention of selling such a talent.
The statistics underline his importance.
In 44 games in all competitions this season, Rogers has scored 13 goals and provided nine assists. Seven of his eight Premier League goals this season have either put Aston Villa in the lead or drawn them level.
He has also had a hand in 10 goals in his last 14 appearances for the club in all competitions, with six goals and four assists. Only Ollie Watkins (26) has had a hand in more goals for the club overall this season than Rogers (22 – 13 goals, nine assists).
Rogers, like Chelsea's Cole Palmer, was another who was unable to make the breakthrough at Manchester City, but might now have his old club casting envious glances in the direction of Villa Park.
Here, it was Rogers' composed finish that set Aston Villa on the way to a 2-1 win and he almost crowned a top-class display with a sensational solo goal in the second half, only to be denied by Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels at the end of a long run.
Halesowen-born Rogers was a product of the West Bromwich Albion academy before going to City, eventually being sold to Middlesbrough for £1.5m after loan spells at Lincoln City, Bournemouth and Blackpool.
City received a proportion of the fee Middlesbrough received, having negotiated a 25% sell-on fee from any profit, but he is currently priceless as far as Unai Emery is concerned - particularly as he has helped them reach the FA Cup semi-finals, the Champions League quarter-finals and move closer to a place in the Premier League's top four.
Rogers will now be a central figure when Emery returns to former club Paris St-Germain in that quarter-final first leg on Wednesday night.
'I'm very demanding of myself to improve things within the game'published at 20:10 BST 5 April
20:10 BST 5 April
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Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to Sky Sports following the win: "A big win. We started dominating. They were playing tactically, a medium-low block, and we started dominating because they were not pressing high and not getting out. We were creating chances and we scored goals.
"In the second half, I am not happy. They were changing their tactics, taking more duels on aggressively and pressing higher, and we were not dominating like we have to.
"This victory is very important. I'm very happy with the victory. I'm very demanding of myself to improve things within the game. I'm happy because we have three more points."
On playing in the Champions League next week: "We are going to play two matches, the first in Paris and then coming back here. Of course we are going to prepare for the two matches, but it is completely different from the game we played today."
On rotating his squad and his squad depth: "We did it in Preston as well. It is very important to manage the players we have. We are more less with the players available. Leon Bailey hopefully can be available for Paris."
'Withstanding their pressure was massive for us'published at 20:02 BST 5 April
20:02 BST 5 April
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Aston Villa attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers has been speaking to Sky Sports about the win: "It's a nice moment. We knew it was a big game. They are doing really well in the league and they are a difficult team to play. We knew we had to start fast and we knew it was a must-win if we want to get where we want to get in the Premier League.
"We were outstanding and deservedly got in front. We knew they would come back into it. They have got that quality, but withstanding their pressure was massive for us."
On the impact of the January signings: "That's what football is all about. The January signings have proved massive for us. We knew it was going to be important if we wanted to compete in the second half of the season, in all three competitions.
"We have made changes, but we all know our jobs. We were fully foucsed and the players who have come in have been outstanding. It was a good performance all around."
On his goal: "I saw Morato not looking and, once Youri Tielemans got the ball, I had to make the move. He has the quality to pick me out from anywhere. I knew I had to make sure the first touch was right to get the opportunity. It fell perfectly and I'm happy to put it away.
"You could hear the crowd when the ball was coming over the top, so I had to be calm and composed."
On facing Paris St-Germain next: "It's going to be a massive game. It's surreal to be in that game. We will go there with confidence because we are playing well at the moment.
"They are one the best teams in the world, there is no denying that. We are in the quarter-finals for a reason. We will go there and try to win the game as always and see where it takes us. I'm looking forward to it."
Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest: Key statspublished at 19:35 BST 5 April
19:35 BST 5 April
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Aston Villa have won seven consecutive games in all competitions for the first time since a 10-game winning streak between March and April 2019 while playing in the Championship. They have done so as a top-flight side for the first time since March 1981 (7 games).
There was just 138 seconds between Morgan Rogers' opener (12:15) and Donyell Malen (14:33) putting Aston Villa 2-0 up.
Seven of Morgan Rogers' eight Premier League goals this season have either put Aston Villa in the lead (4) or drawn them level (3).
Sutton's predictions: Aston Villa v Nottingham Forestpublished at 11:03 BST 5 April
11:03 BST 5 April
Nottingham Forest are flying, but so are Aston Villa - they have now won six on the spin.
Forest nicked the points late on at the City Ground when Villa went there in December, coming from 1-0 down after 87 minutes to win it in stoppage time.
This will be just as close, and I cannot really call a winner.
Even if they do drop points here, I am still confident Forest will finish in the Champions League places.
We saw again when they beat Manchester United on Tuesday that they are not bothered about possession because of their threat on the break and Anthony Elanga's winner in that game was one of my favourite goals of the season.
The way he took it was really intelligent, because he had the option to pop the ball out to the left but the United backline kept backing off, and he just kept on going. His finish was devastating too and, overall, it reminded me of me in my pomp with the way I used to drive up the pitch.
It's going to be harder for Aston Villa to make the top five, because they still have the Champions League and FA Cup to think about, but they are on a great run and, at the moment, they have the depth in the squad they need even if they make changes here before they face Paris St-Germain next week.
I don't think Villa boss Unai Emery will prioritise any of the three competitions. They are in them all, so he will go for it in all three - and so he should.
Should Villa prioritise a competition?published at 17:46 BST 4 April
17:46 BST 4 April
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Aston Villa play Nottingham Forest this weekend and I think that will be a difficult test for Unai Emery's men.
Villa are inconsistent, but that is probably not helped by the amount of games they have played this season juggling competitions. It is hard.
They had to strengthen in January and those players are really helping them as Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford have found their form at a critical stage.
I think this game will be good, exciting contest and Villa Park is always a difficult place to go too.
Villa will need to find a way to break down Forest's stern defence if they are to get anything from it.
They have a busy few weeks ahead on three fronts so it is is hard to know what to prioritise, but Emery is known for winning cup competitions.
If I was a Villa fan then I would want to finish this season with a trophy and prioritising the FA Cup is the way I would go around doing that.
Plus, that is a route into Europe.
They face Crystal Palace at Wembley and many will see that as a winnable game to progress to the final, where anything can then happen on the day.
If they are to beat Forest then Manchester City haven't shown themselves this season so anyone could beat anyone looking at these semi-finals.
But when you are in the Champions League still and it is two-legs in the quarter-final, you can fancy your chances on the day in that competition as well.
Plus, Emery will try and compete in that, the FA Cup and the Premier League because he has the squad depth to do so.
Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford
Emery on team news, Rashford's 500th appearance, and Forestpublished at 14:50 BST 4 April
14:50 BST 4 April
Karan Vinod BBC Sport journalist
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest at Villa Park (kick-off 17:30 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On the fitness of forward Leon Bailey: "Bailey is getting better but we will check this afternoon how he is progressing. We can feel happy because now we are recovering players and not getting players injured and I will decide this afternoon how the players are for tomorrow."
However, Emery had good news regarding Ollie Watkins, who has been able to recover fully from the same injury he started the season with during the international break and is available to face Forest.
On the importance of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez's personality: "The commitment he has with the team is necessary, fantastic, and always very positive."
The Spaniard said he was "happy for him" as Marcus Rashford prepares for his 500th appearance, adding that he is trying to help the on-loan forward achieve his "best form, qualities and confidence".
On Forest and Nuno Espirito Santo: "Fantastic in his character as a coach. Fantastic football. Very competitive and fantastic how they are competing and playing. Respect them a lot."
Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest: Did you know?published at 09:17 BST 4 April
09:17 BST 4 April
Image source, Getty Images
Aston Villa are unbeaten in their past eight home league games against Nottingham Forest. They have also scored at least twice in each of the past seven.
Following their 2-1 win at the City Ground in December, Nottingham Forest are looking to complete their first league double over Aston Villa since 1984-85.
Villa also have a clear path to pursue 20-year-old Real Madrid winger Arda Guler, after Liverpool ended their interest in the Turkey international. (Teamtalk), external
Image source, Getty Images
