Unai Emery Targets Champions League Progress Following Aston Villa's Victory Over Southampton

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Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is shifting focus to the UEFA Champions League after their 1-0 victory over Southampton in the Premier League. Jhon Duran's goal in the first half secured consecutive league wins for Villa, following losses to Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham. This win is crucial as Villa prepares for a busy schedule before 2024 ends.

Villa will travel to RB Leipzig on December 10, aiming to strengthen their position in the Round of 16. Despite a strong start in their Champions League debut, recent results have been mixed. They achieved three straight wins, including a historic 1-0 victory against Bayern Munich. However, a loss to Club Brugge and a draw with Juventus have slowed their progress.

Emery is keen for the Southampton win to serve as a foundation for their challenging trip to Germany. "Successive Premier League victories at Villa Park in a week," tweeted Aston Villa's official account. The team’s contrasting form in Europe remains a concern despite their promising start.

The former Arsenal manager wants his team to use this result as momentum ahead of their midweek clash in Germany. "Over the 90 minutes we had chances to score more, but sometimes they dominated possession," he told BBC Sport. "We managed the game plan to try and find a way to win."

Villa faces Nottingham Forest next in a Midlands derby before hosting Manchester City on December 21. A victory could elevate them to fifth place in the league standings. Meanwhile, Southampton's defeat marks their twelfth league loss this season, keeping them at the bottom of the table.

Southampton's manager Russell Martin lamented individual errors that led to Duran's winning goal after Taylor Harwood-Bellis was dispossessed. "We gave away a poor goal when it was a good, tight game," Martin said. "We changed shape and then the game became transitional."

"They were trying to find another goal, so it became very open," he added. "We're two v one, and we had a chance to clear the ball, and we don't." Southampton will host Tottenham next weekend before facing Liverpool in an EFL Cup quarter-final on December 18.

Emery emphasised balancing Champions League enjoyment with Premier League challenges: "The Champions League is something we have to enjoy, but we also focus on the difficulties in the Premier League." He highlighted readiness with available players for upcoming matches.