Villa’s Long-Awaited Champions League Comeback
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has laid out his ambitious plans for the club as they prepare for their first Champions League campaign since 1983. After guiding Villa to a remarkable fourth-place finish in the Premier League last season and a run to the Europa Conference League semi-finals, Emery is ready to take the club to new heights in European football.
Emery’s Champions League Vision
Despite the excitement surrounding the upcoming Champions League draw on August 29, Emery remains unfazed by the prospect of facing Europe’s elite. “The draw is not that relevant,” he told talkSPORT Breakfast. Instead, Emery, who led Villarreal to the Champions League semi-finals three years ago, is focused on ensuring Villa not only competes but excels in the competition. “My objective is to play more than eight matches. We will enjoy the Champions League by being competitive and successful.”
Navigating the New Champions League Format
Under the new format, Aston Villa will face eight different opponents in home-and-away league games. Emery’s goal is to secure a top-eight finish in this phase, which would guarantee a spot in the knockout stages. However, even a finish between 9th and 24th would give Villa a chance to advance through a two-legged play-off.
Dreaming of Silverware for Villa Park
Beyond the Champions League, Emery is also aiming to end Villa’s long wait for a major trophy. The club has not lifted silverware since winning the League Cup in the 1995-96 season. While Emery acknowledges the challenges, he remains optimistic about the squad’s potential. “A trophy is always in my mind because I got trophies for other teams,” he said. “Our progress has been clear, but there’s still a lot of work to do, and you have to be more demanding than we were before.”
Emery’s leadership has transformed Villa since his arrival in 2022, and now he’s poised to guide them on a journey that could make history at Villa Park.