Unai Emery reinforced his pride in his players’ ability to fight on two fronts for Aston Villa.
The side suffered heartbreak in a 2-0 defeat against Manchester United last May that kept them stuck in sixth spot in the Premier League table, missing out on Champions League qualification. But it has meant that the Basque boss is back in the Europa League, which he has won four times in his career, and an emphatic 7-1 aggregate victory over Bologna has put the Villans in the final four.
‘The challenge is to keep those two competitions’
At the same time, a downturn in results in the new year has not hindered advancements towards a Champions League qualification position through the Premier League. Emery’s men are in fourth place, level on 55 points with Manchester United, and the boss believes his men deserve respect.
“We are glad and delighted to be now, in the moment we are after some parts of the season not performing, struggling, and other parts of the season, really being fantastic.
“And now, the key moment in the season, we are involved in those two competitions, Premier League – the priority – and Europa League, in the semi-final. We are motivated, we are excited, we have the challenge. The challenge is to keep those two competitions being in the level we are.
“And each competition gives us clear objectives. Premier League is the first objective through it to try to play competing in the position we are now, fourth or the top five positions, Champions League positions, European positions. Another objective, a way for a trophy, is through Europa League, and winning this trophy, you are playing Champions League next year, but semi-final is not enough.
“They are not giving you a trophy in semi-final. We are going to play against Nottingham Forest, 50/50 is the average or the percentage to be in the final. For them, it’s a huge opportunity, like for us.
“We must be focusing each competition and each moment, like now we are, and this Sunday against Sunderland. The challenge is a huge challenge for us, competing in both competitions like we are.
“Why? Because it’s not easy to be in the level that we are in those competitions, Europe, and Premier League, and we have, around us, examples.”
“Last year, Manchester United and Tottenham. They were not in the league in the positions to compete for Europe, and they were playing the final in Europa League, but only one won.
Emery highlights the difficulty of competing on multiple fronts
“And the same this year, for example, Champions League. There were six teams, English six teams playing Champions League, and only Arsenal playing in the semi-final.
“To compete as well in the league, in the top level, position is not easy, for example, Tottenham or Newcastle United, they are not in the top European positions. This means a lot for us, to be glad or delighted in the position we are, but as well, the challenge we have in front. The challenge needs focus, rest today, tomorrow morning, work tomorrow afternoon/evening, and focus 100% Sunderland on Sunday.
“To finish in the top four, top five in the Premier League is the most important. To be successful, I can feel through it successful this year. We are adding another competition to try to play for a trophy. Last year, we played semi-final FA Cup. We played semi-final, but we lost. Losing, you don’t have nothing.
Villa Park as a fortress
“Each match is a test to show [our rhythm.] Of course, yesterday, we were so, so happy after the match, and today morning, we were analysing our momentum. Sunday, we’ll see. On Sunday, we are in this rhythm, positive rhythm, if we are in the same confidence we showed yesterday. As well, we will need on Sunday, Villa Park full with the supporters transmitting us the energy, their help.
“We achieved in Villa Park, last three years, in different momentum, we achieved a lot of matches winning in a row, really fantastic. We were feeling our fortress strongly in Villa Park, but not always we are feeling it. For our performance, for our momentum.”
“Of course, it’s the first way we must try to show, and then the supporters connecting with us, when we are achieving it, is really our fortress, and really very difficult for the opponent to beat us.”