Unai Emery wants to bring Champions League football to Villa Park and insists his “dreams” for Aston Villa are realistic. The Spaniard has performed a remarkable job at Villa since taking over from Steven Gerrard back in November and guided the club to a seventh-placed finish last season, which guaranteed qualification for the Europa Conference League. Villa must overcome a two-legged play-off tie against either Hibernian or FC Luzern to progress into the group stage, and if Emery’s side manage that, they will enter the competition as one of the early favourites to lift the trophy in Athens. Villa open what promises to be an exciting 2023/24 season away at Newcastle United on Saturday. The Toon finished in the top four last term and will play in the Champions League next season. Asked if Newcastle are an inspiration for Villa,
Unai Emery said: “Yes, though not 100 per cent because we are Aston Villa and we have our own way and our history, present and future. The inspiration is how they have improved. Some circumstances could be the same as us. The biggest inspiration for me is trying to get another level, being competitive and playing in the Champions League. I analyse them and I follow them. I am trying to understand each team with their individual characteristics as a club, team, player and coach. I think they have been very successful in a short time. They added more power financially, a good coach, good players and this year they took another step forward. Their capacity now is stronger than two or three years ago. Their history is great as well. The realistic thought for me is there a seven top teams. After that is us, Brighton, Fulham. Every year there is a surprise. One of those seven teams are out of Europe or the top four and another team comes in. Our realistic start is trying to be there, not as a favourite but as a candidate to fight for those places. Of course, we can dream and have to dream. I dream, for example, that one moment Leicester won the Premier League. Of course, I am realistic. But my dreams are realistic. The favourites are Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle, Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool. They are the favourites to be in the top seven, realistically. Then there are other teams trying to be candidates. I think it is realistically what we can do.”
