Unai Emery
Aston Villa celebrated a historic victory, clinching the Europa League title with a decisive 3-0 win over Freiburg in Istanbul. This triumph marks the club’s first European trophy since 1982, with captain John McGinn lifting the coveted silverware. The victory not only cements Unai Emery’s status as a club legend but also elevates many of his players to iconic status within the Villa Park annals.
Unai Emery said: “It is something very difficult, how we achieved it and how we settled at the beginning of the project, with the owners, the players, and the club. But the club is doing a huge effort to try and be consistent in this way. Consistency now is the most important word I have in my mind. Consistency in everything, to keep the level we are. I told you at the beginning of the season how I was worried and upset. After how we reacted, I can tell you and the supporters I am so, so happy and proud. Achieving the Champions League and this trophy is confirming my worth since I started here. To keep it is the priority. This consistency is difficult to keep for some time, but that is the message. My ambition, of course, the club must think in this way, the players as well. We are going to start again not being contenders in the Premier League because again there are another seven teams at the beginning more of a contender than us. We must try to reduce the distances. My idea in our development is to be a contender to be in the top six for next year because we are improving and having more opportunities to be there.”
Unai Emery further explained: “Aston Villa is a huge brand with a huge history. But in the last 25 years, other teams with the same level could improve more, for different reasons. They had more investment from the owners and it was open – what they were investing. Maybe Chelsea, with Abramovich, and teams like that. The process they did, they have an advantage with us. But now, with the moment and the process we have, we are trying to increase our revenue and increase our brand, trying to improve as well our capacity. The club is doing works in Villa Park to add the capacity; that is one step forward for the club. People watching around the world can watch Aston Villa, playing at the level we are. This is the objective. My idea as well is to try and exploit our capacity with the players, individually, collectively and tactically, with the level we are performing at, we aim to reduce the gap on the pitch.”
Since Emery’s appointment three and a half years ago, Aston Villa has experienced significant growth. The club is now poised to secure a top-four finish for the second consecutive season under the Spaniard’s leadership. Last season, Villa narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification due to goal difference, but they have managed the demanding Thursday-to-Sunday schedule with remarkable resilience this term.
Emery’s ambition and strategic vision have been pivotal in Villa’s resurgence. Despite acknowledging the financial constraints compared to other top Premier League contenders, Emery remains focused on consistency and long-term success. His tenure has seen Villa reach the Champions League quarter-finals and now secure a major European trophy, underscoring the club’s upward trajectory.
With ongoing developments at Villa Park and a renewed focus on brand expansion, Aston Villa aims to continue its ascent in both domestic and European competitions. Emery’s leadership and the club’s strategic investments are set to propel Villa towards sustained success and recognition on the global stage.
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