Aston Villa waited 44 years for a European final. Now they have one. Four goals without reply against Nottingham Forest at Villa Park, a double from John McGinn in three minutes, and Birmingham sent its club where generations of fans could only dream of - into the Europa League final, against SK Freiburg.

The match started the way Villa wanted - with pressure. Stefan Ortega beat away the first threat, a header from Pau Torres, while Tielemans missed a header from a corner. The signal was clear: the home side hadn't come to protect the first-leg result, they had come to close out the tie.

In the 36th minute the first goal arrived. Ollie Watkins found himself in the right place after a combination with Emi Buendía and from close range there was no doubt - 1-0. A few minutes later, the same Watkins was a step away from doubling the lead, but Ortega blocked the curling shot.

After the break McGinn began to dominate midfield. Morgan Rogers missed a clear chance, and then Villa won a penalty after Torres was brought down in the box. Buendía did not hesitate - 2-0. Rogers thought he scored a third around the 60th minute, but it was offside.

Forest tried to bring the match back. Hutchinson hit a cross-shot to the far post, but Igor Jesus headed wide. Chris Wood went one-on-one with the goal and missed - Emi Martínez was in position. That was the visitors' last chance.

And then came McGinn. In the 77th minute - first touch into the net. In the 80th - again. A double in three minutes, four goals in total, and Villa Park watched something Birmingham had not seen since 1982: its team in a European final. The aggregate score 4-1, and the opponent in Basel or wherever the final ends up - German Freiburg.

For fans who counted the years in disappointments, this isn't just qualification. This is generational work. Unai Emery has shown that the team he is building is no experiment - it is a project already functioning at the highest level. The question now is not whether Villa will play in the final, but whether they will win it.