Aston Villa’s Champions League qualification a special day, says boss Unai Emery
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Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has led his side to the Champions League after being absent from the competition for 41 years.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – It was only fitting that Aston Villa held their in-house awards ceremony on May 14, when the whole club came together to celebrate the success of their season.
The icing on the cake was when manager Unai Emery and his men learnt midway through the event that they had qualified for next season’s Champions League.
Champagne was sprayed all over the venue and Emery celebrated a “very special day” after Villa clinched a spot in Europe’s top-tier club competition for the first time since 1983, and said he is excited by the future of his team.
The West Midlands side secured fourth spot after Tottenham Hotspur suffered a 2-0 home loss to Manchester City in the Premier League.
Villa are fourth in the standings with 68 points, five more than Tottenham, who sit fifth with one game to play. City are now within touching distance of an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title.
The Villans had won the old European Cup, precursor to the Champions League, in 1982, but have not played in the continental competition for 41 years.
“It’s a very special day today,” said Emery, who raised both arms up and cheered when the Spurs game ended.
“It was our dream when we started the season to be here. To play Champions League.
“You can play in the Premier League against the best teams in the world, it’s very difficult. When you are playing in the Champions League, you are playing against the best teams, at the same time, from other countries. And it’s amazing.”
The Spaniard, a Europa League winner with Sevilla (thrice) and Villarreal (once), knows all about European football.
But he understands Villa as well, endearing himself to fans since he was appointed in October 2022.
“We are always responsible about the history here, we know the history of Aston Villa is so long and so successful. Even in the Champions League, before it was the European Cup, we knew the responsibility was to try to increase our level, try to be demanding and to dream,” he said.
“I want to enjoy more and next year, the new challenge starts for us. To build again a team, and being strong to go and always increase our level. This is our objective.”
Amid a wild night of celebrations at the awards ceremony at Villa Park, captain John McGinn also spoke on the achievement.
“On behalf of all the players, it’s been an amazing season,” the 29-year-old Scotland international said.
“We got promoted, we got into the Premier League and were seven points behind with four games to play, we managed to stay in the league.
“We kept building and thankfully we’ve achieved something we haven’t done for (over) 40 years. So, on behalf of all the players and staff, we’re over the moon, we’re delighted.”
Villa will conclude their campaign with a trip to Selhurst Park on May 19 to face in-form Crystal Palace, who are 12th in the league. REUTERS
