They've done it. Aston Villa have done it. From the Second City, Unai Emery's Villa have ended 30 years of drought to lift the Europa League.

Freiburg paled in comparison to the Premier League outfit, unable to stop three stunning strikes. Post-match, the scenes were frenzied and jubilant, Emery crowning this incredible journey with silverware. They have done it.

Freiburg were aggressive and they were resistent throughout an attritional first half, but Youri Tielemans broke the German side with the sweetest of volleys after a corner, Emi Buendia then curling home a blinder right before the break.

How Aston Villa won the Europa League final

The goals were sublime, but it was the control and coherence rippling from back to front at Aston Villa that secured silverware after a three-decades long drought.

They were a class above their opponents, and though the Premier League boasts more financial strength than the rest of Europe, the Lion's success boils down to Emery and his skill in crafting a unified outfit. When he replaced Steven Gerrard, Villa were facing a relegation battle.

While Villa are now into their second Champions League campaign in just three years, Emery will find he is able to canvas a different kind of proposal to prospective signings, showing not only title-winning quality but an ability to eke out every ounce of ability from his players.

Just look at the resurgent Buendia. The Argentina playmaker has been instrumental of late, and his Premier League career looked in tatters when he petered out at Man United.

However, there's an even bigger redemption arc emerging in the English Midlands. He didn't get on the scoresheet, but this Villa star put in a Gareth Barry-esque display against Freiburg on Wednesday night.

Aston Villa star looked like prime Gareth Barry

Barry is a Premier League legend, and he devoted plenty of his career to Villa Park. The combative midfielder never won anything at Aston Villa, but his strength as an anchor at the heart of the pitch was immense, facilitating those around him, behind and in front.

Now, would you believe it or not, Victor Lindelof is putting in performances that the 45-year-old would be proud of in the middle of the park, the heartbeat of Emery's latest Europa League triumph.

Described by one content creator to have put in "a masterclass in midfield", natural centre-back Lindelof certainly proved himself against the Germans, instrumental in winning European gold and keeping Amadou Onana on the bench.

This was simply an illustration of Emery's tactical progress, his elite coaching merits. It was a a microcosm into the record-breaking Europa League specialist's genius, calmness and confidence and professionalism emanating from him in the middle of the park.

By doing the dirty work, the quiet but important job, Lindelof did indeed channel his inner Barry to secure silverware for his outfit, who he joined last summer after leaving Old Trafford as something of an Old Trafford outcast.

On paper, his performance was nothing to write home about. But how often to the metrics fail to paint the full picture? Lindelof was immense, so intelligent in closing down hopeful attackers and invariably picking the right pass, repelling attacks but also starting forward sequences of Villa's own.

He was replaced by Onana to a standing ovation after 66 minutes, his work done, his team three goals to the good.

Emery has created this beautiful project, and he deserves his flowers. A lesser manager would not have deigned to place Lindelof in midfield, let alone expect him to put in first-class performances en route to European gold.

But this is a measure of this outfit's remarkable quality. Lindelof may not be a natural midfielder of Barry's ilk, but the retired England star will be delighted and impressed by his Swedish counterpart's stunning contribution over the past few months on the European road.