Aston Villa boss Unai Emery wants to build on the club's proud history in Europe
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery(Image: Ryan Browne/Shutterstock)
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Unai Emery insists Aston Villa’s proud heritage means he and his players have a responsibility to write their own history.
Winning a fifth UEFA Europa League title this season would end Villa’s 30-year wait for silverware, as Emery finalises his preparations to guide his team into the semi-finals of the competition.
Bologna will host Villa on Thursday night for the first leg of their quarter-final tie, before the Serie A side travel to Birmingham for the return leg next week - their third visit in 18 months.
“Aston Villa has a massive history in a lot of things, and one remarkable moment was when Aston Villa won the European Cup,” Emery said ahead of the meeting at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara.
“It’s something that makes us feel responsible and that we’re in a club that was successful in Europe.
“Individually, I’m feeling comfortable during the years, and thankful for the teams I was coaching with the possibility to win this title or in the Champions League or Conference League.
“Each moment is a different challenge. Everything we did before is done and to do it again is the challenge we have.
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“Every day with the players and with Villa is to build something for the history of the club. To win in Europe is very, very difficult.”
He added: “Tomorrow is going to be different because playing in Villa Park they were not playing with their supporters. Some supporters travelled there but we were with more supporters.
“How they are creating a great atmosphere here is going to be fantastic for them. We will have our supporters travelling to be here with us, but they are more than us.
“Tactically, it’s not going to change a lot because they are playing the same at home and away. Even the results are similar when playing at home and away.
“But for us, it’s going to be very difficult. Every experience we’ve had playing away in Europe has been very difficult, more difficult than playing at home.
“Tomorrow we are ready, we are focused, trying to set our game plan and trying to continue in our build, individually and collectively.”
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