Villa are still chasing glory in the Premier League and in Europe.
Unai Emery reckons Villa deserve credit for their “amazing” consistency while fighting on two fronts this season.
Villa host Liverpool on Friday targeting the win which would secure a top-five Premier League finish and a place in next season’s Champions League, ahead of facing Freiburg in next Wednesday’s Europa League final.
Emery’s men have taken just one point from their last three top flight matches to leave the door open to Bournemouth and Brighton in the top-five race.
But the boss believes the bigger picture should not be ignored. Villa could become just the fourth club in the last decade to secure Champions League qualification through league position and win a European trophy in the same season.
Emery said “It’s something amazing, how we are doing this season.“After the first five matches we played in the league, to be here now is fantastic.
“Liverpool have the same points as us and we are ahead of teams who started as contenders ahead of us.
“Consistency like we are doing is giving us the opportunity. We should be proud of everyone.
“We have a huge challenge against Liverpool and a huge challenge in Europe. But this is the time we should be together, happy and motivated.”
Villa were in the Premier League’s bottom three in September, after failing to win any of their first six matches in all competitions.
Emery continued: “At the beginning of the season to be where we are now was, wow, a dream.
“Of course, we are ambitious and we don’t want to stop here.
“The next challenge is Friday against Liverpool, a huge challenge at Villa Park.
“Hopefully we can share this moment with our supporters and then the final in Istanbul.
“Always I want more but I also must accept how we are doing this season.”
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