Dean Smith proud of Aston Villa players following Carabao Cup victory

Egyptian winger Trezeguet netted in the third minute of stoppage time to earn Villa a 3-2 aggregate win over the Foxes and a third trip to Wembley in as many seasons.

The final whistle was greeted by a mass pitch invasion on another famous night at Villa Park.

Smith said: “I am very proud of the players. We made it an entertaining game and know how good Leicester are.

“I am proud of the performance and the effort the players put in.

“Villa Park a very special place. I knew the atmosphere would be at fever pitch and it was.

“I think the players lived up to the billing of the game this was. I thought we were aggressive and pressed against a very good team who can hurt you.”

Smith admitted his team were indebted to goalkeeper Orjan Nyland, after the Norway international made three stunning saves in the first-half.

Matt Targett put Villa ahead on the night but Kelechi Iheanacho’s equaliser looked to have sent the tie to penalties before Trezeguet converted a cross from fellow substitute and countryman Ahmed Elmohamady to spark wild scenes.

“I thought we really played a part in the game,” said Smith. “In the second half I thought we were unfortunate to concede when we did.

“But we showed an awful lot of character and won it with a goal made in Egypt at the end.”

Villa, who are aiming to win the competition for the sixth time, will learn their final opponents tonight when Manchester City host Manchester United. City hold a 3-1 lead heading into the second leg.

“If we could go and win this competition for a sixth time it would make me a very proud man,” said Smith.

“We know it is going to be tough, whoever we face. But the hard part is getting to a domestic up final and we have managed to do that against a very good Leicester team.”

Defeat snapped Leicester boss’ Brendan Rodgers 32-match unbeaten streak in domestic cup competitions, a run which dated back to the 2015 FA Cup semi-final, when his Liverpool team were beaten by Villa.

“I felt over the two games we were the better side. I am bitterly disappointed,” he said, adding he believed the Foxes should have been awarded a first half penalty when Marvelous Nakamba blocked James Maddison’s shot with his arm.

“It looked clear,” said Rodgers. “When you see it on the replay, I don’t know how it wasn’t given.”