Unai Emery
Aston Villa is gearing up for a crucial semi-final clash against Nottingham Forest in the Europa Conference League, marking their third consecutive semi-final appearance in as many years. The first leg of this highly anticipated encounter is set to take place at the City Ground on Thursday night. Villa’s journey in recent years has seen them narrowly miss out on silverware, with defeats in the Conference League semi-finals against Olympiacos in 2023/24 and an FA Cup semi-final loss to Crystal Palace at Wembley last term. This time, Villa is determined to capitalize on past experiences and aim for their first trophy in 30 years, while also eyeing a return to the Champions League.
Unai Emery said: “The semi-final against Olympiacos two years ago, we lost, but we were also in the Premier League fighting to finish fourth. We finished that season tired and with some injuries. We lost, we accepted it, and it was a process we went through at that moment. Last year, we played the FA Cup semi-final and went to Wembley. It was my first experience of a semi-final at Wembley in the FA Cup. We lost against Crystal Palace – another experience. But they were two different situations: against Olympiacos it was over two legs, and against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup it was 90 minutes. We are going to use those experiences to do better this time.”
This upcoming semi-final marks the first European meeting between Villa and Forest, and notably, it is Villa’s maiden continental contest against domestic opponents. Emery emphasized the importance of both legs in the tie, highlighting the need for strategic management of momentum throughout the matches.
Unai Emery continued: “We will play two legs and, of course, the first 90 minutes are very important, but we will still have the second leg to play. When you are playing in the Premier League, the matches may seem the same, but they are different in terms of how you manage the momentum – even between the first half of the first leg and the second half of the second leg. They are different, and I expect it to be a long match. Why? Because they are performing really well and are now playing with confidence – it is really impressive. They have scored four or five goals in the matches they have played. I expect a difficult match and a very intelligent match. We must play intelligently and try to enjoy it too – we must enjoy the preparation, the match itself, after the match, and the days between the legs.”
Villa’s aspirations this season extend beyond the Europa Conference League, as they are also pushing for a top-five finish in the Premier League to secure Champions League qualification. Emery stressed the collective effort required from the team, urging players to prioritize the team’s goals over individual ambitions.
Unai Emery added: “We are in the semi-final of the Europa League and near the end of the Premier League season, with our target so close and very important – to achieve European qualification and Champions League football next season. Every player must be focused, playing with excitement and ready to play 90 minutes, 30 minutes, or even just a few minutes – this is the moment to contribute. Now is not the time for individual players to be selfish. Now is the time for the team to be together. Everybody is involved in a key moment this season, and in the important target we are facing.”
As Villa prepares for this pivotal moment, the team is aware of Nottingham Forest’s formidable form, having scored nine goals in their last two matches. With the stakes high, Villa aims to leverage their past experiences and current momentum to achieve a historic season.
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