Unai Emery Insists Aston Villa Must Strive For Silverware In Champions League Campaign

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Aston Villa's manager, Unai Emery, is focused on pushing the club to new heights as they aim for a significant milestone in the Champions League. Villa will host Bologna at Villa Park on Tuesday, hoping to maintain their flawless record in the tournament. They are also riding high on a nine-game unbeaten streak across all competitions, including a 3-1 victory over Fulham in the Premier League that has propelled them into the top four.

Emery is on the brink of his 25th Champions League win, which would make him the fifth Spanish manager to achieve this feat, joining Pep Guardiola, Rafael Benitez, Vicente del Bosque, and Luis Enrique. However, Emery's ambitions extend beyond personal achievements. He is determined to establish Aston Villa as consistent contenders for major trophies during his tenure. "I don't want to waste my time here," Emery stated. "We want to achieve our objectives, and one of them is to play in the Champions League."

Victory against Bologna would see Villa match their longest winning streak in the European Cup or Champions League since 1981. This fixture marks their first encounter with Bologna in any competition. Historically, Villa has struggled against Italian teams, losing four out of six major European matches against them. Their two victories came at home against Inter Milan in 1990 and 1994 during the UEFA Cup.

Emery will mark his second anniversary as Villa's manager on Thursday but remains focused on future growth rather than past achievements. Reflecting on his time at the club, he noted how they avoided relegation two years ago and secured a spot in the Conference League within seven months. Last season saw further progress with qualification for the Champions League.

"The challenge is to get better every day," Emery explained. "When you achieve an objective at a high level, how can you be demanding and successful in keeping it? That's the idea I have now." He emphasised that both he and the club share this vision of maintaining their current level while aspiring for more success.

Emery reiterated his message of not wasting time at Aston Villa: "We are professionals, and we can get our best objectives individually and collectively." His goal is not only to maintain their current standing but also to become contenders for trophies.

As Aston Villa prepares for Tuesday's match against Bologna, they aim to continue their impressive form and secure another victory in their quest for Champions League success. The team is united under Emery's leadership with a shared determination to break barriers and achieve long-term goals.