Emery ‘aspiring’ for Europa League after dismissing title pursuit

Aston Villa on the Europa League Path

Aston Villa’s head coach, Unai Emery, may not perceive his team as genuine contenders for the Premier League title, yet he is “aspiring” for success in the Europa League as they advance to the last 16.

Villa secured a crucial 1-0 victory against Fenerbahce in Turkey, ensuring a top-eight finish in the league phase with a match left to play.

On Sunday, Emery noted that Villa is “not among the top five contenders” following a 1-0 defeat at home to Everton.

If Villa ends up outside the Premier League’s top four—or even top five if an additional qualifying spot is awarded to England—the only route to Champions League football for next season would be by clinching the Europa League title.

Emery, who has a remarkable history in the Europa League with four victories, the latest being with Villarreal in 2021, managed his 100th match in the tournament on Thursday. He expressed his team’s “clear objectives” in aiming for a trophy after their win in Istanbul.

“We aspire to be in contention for the trophy to qualify for the Champions League. It is quite challenging through our league,” he stated. “I am dreaming of bringing trophies here, and the Europa is one of our goals this year.”

Despite their status as the seventh-most decorated club in English football history, Villa has not won a major trophy since the League Cup in 1996.

Sancho’s Milestone Achievement

Aston Villa is currently delivering an impressive performance streak.

They have achieved 20 wins in their last 25 matches (1 draw, 4 losses), with only Arsenal (21 wins) having a better record in Europe’s top five leagues during this timeframe.

Their recent slip against Everton prevented them from moving into second place, trailing four points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, a club Emery has previously managed.

In the match against Fenerbahce, Emery opted for six changes, and his team exhibited dominance, with the score not reflecting their superiority over the 28-time Turkish champions.

After the match, Emery congratulated his players for honoring the competition, stating he was “extremely pleased” with their performance.

Jadon Sancho, who netted the decisive goal, celebrated his first goal for Villa on his 19th appearance since his loan from Manchester United began in September.

“It’s wonderful to have a manager that supports and believes in you,” said the 25-year-old winger, who has not featured for United since August 2024, with his contract expiring this summer.

“Emery continually advises me to maintain a positive mindset during matches. I aim to give my all and hope to contribute with goals,” he added.

While Sancho has only initiated two Premier League matches this season, he has been a regular in Villa’s starting lineup for the last five Europa League fixtures.

By securing a top-eight league-phase finish, Villa has also avoided a two-legged playoff in February.

In addition, Emery retained striker Ollie Watkins for the entire match against Fenerbahce and included key midfielder Morgan Rogers for 74 minutes.

Defender Tyrone Mings made his first appearance since November after recovering from a thigh injury. Amadou Onana, who had been sidelined by a hamstring injury, also returned for a brief stint off the bench.

“We are in the process of building the team despite some challenging circumstances,” Emery commented.

“Next week, we can finalize the transfer window and hopefully secure everything needed to complete the squad for the upcoming months and competitions.”