Pau Torres
Aston Villa is set to embark on a challenging series of fixtures, playing seven matches over 16 days. The demanding schedule begins with a trip to Bologna, followed by a clash with Nottingham Forest between the two legs of their Europa League quarter-final, and a home game against Fulham. Manager Unai Emery has set his sights on securing Champions League qualification while also aiming to end the club’s 30-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League. Achieving these goals would not only enhance Emery’s legacy but also potentially secure his fifth Europa League title.
Pau Torres said: “Yes, I think the club grew tremendously with Unai’s arrival. We went from fighting to avoid relegation, so to speak, to now aiming for European qualification every year. I think this will bring a lot of stability to the club, allowing us to improve the squad, and it’s something we all want to strive for.”
Pau Torres continued: “He’s a very hard-working coach. From the first day I met him, I saw that he was the last to leave the training ground, around 7 or 8 in the evening. We realised that the results he had achieved up to that point weren’t a coincidence; they were the fruit of his hard work and that of his staff. They are people who dedicate themselves fully to football all day long, and as you say, the team’s confidence in him and his playing style was absolute from the start. There were no doubts despite those initial results. In the end, if the team shows the right attitude and tries to play the way we want, he knows we might win, lose, or draw, but we always have to give it our all.”
Scott Sinclair said: “It’s just trying to manage both fronts for Aston Villa. The main objective is to be in that Champions League spot and be playing in the Champions League next season. But of course, there’s also the Europa League. They need to try and get into the Champions League while also keeping an eye on the Europa League. You can see what Unai Emery has done since he’s been at the club. He’s done a fantastic job and has made the team better. With the players they’ve got, he’s made them gel and got them playing very well together. He’s a very good manager and I think they wouldn’t want him to leave.”
Scott Sinclair added: “For Morgan Rogers, if you’re a top player, you want to be playing in the Champions League. I’m sure that’ll probably be in the back of his head. The grass is not always greener when you want to move on, but I’d like to see him stay and be the main man. He’s on form. I think it’s exciting times for him and I’m excited to see him go to the World Cup and be one of the stars of the show.”
Stefan Borson said: “If they were to finish third in the Premier League and win the Europa League, then you’re not telling me that makes no difference. That just doesn’t make any sense. That would be an amazing season for them. Obviously, it’s not as good as getting to the latter stages of the Champions League, but you’d still do €40m (£35m) plus matchday from the Europa League. It’s not the £70m that probably Newcastle got from the Champions League round of 16, but it’s still a lot.”
Stefan Borson added: “Their league position would guarantee them let’s say £160m for finishing in third, so that’s still £200m broadcast all in. That would be a very good season, and they’d have guaranteed themselves Champions League next season, where they’d do a minimum of £70m, probably with matchday a minimum of £90m.”
Aston Villa’s financial position has been bolstered by a £17 million profit after tax, with total revenue rising by 37% to £378.1 million. The club’s capital expenditure has increased significantly, funding various projects including hospitality refurbishments at Villa Park and the opening of a new entertainment venue. Football finance expert Stefan Borson highlighted the financial implications of a successful season, noting the substantial difference Champions League qualification would make to the club’s finances.
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