No let-up on final day says De Zerbi

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Head coach wants to end record-breaking season with victory at Villa Park.

Bruce Talbot

2023-05-26T05:30:00Z

Roberto De Zerbi salutes the Amex crowd after Albion beat Manchester United 1-0.

Roberto De Zerbi insists Albion will be looking to end a record-breaking season on a high against Aston Villa on Sunday.

Albion secured sixth place – and Europa League football for the first time in the club’s history – when we ended champions Manchester City’s 12-match winning streak with a 1-1 draw at the Amex on Sunday.

There is much more at stake for Villa, who need to win to secure a place in the Conference League. Were Albion to win, Tottenham or even Brentford could moved above them into seventh.

Albion lost a contentious game 2-1 at the Amex in November and since then coach Unai Emery has transformed Villa’s fortunes, as De Zerbi acknowledged.

“Aston Villa will be another very tough game, they deserve to achieve Europe," he said. "Unai Emery has changed their season, and they have big players with a clear style of play.

“We have to arrive ready, the holidays have not started yet.

"We have to respect ourselves, the club and fans in every game and every training session we have to play seriously.

“We go to Birmingham to win and play in our way.”