Emery insists Aston Villa won’t be failures without Europa glory

Emery insists Aston Villa won’t be failures without Europa glory

Unai Emery has said Aston Villa will not have failed if the club do not win the Europa League this season.

Aston Villa welcome Nottingham Forest to Villa Park tomorrow night for the second leg of their semi-final tie. Emery’s team trail 1-0 from the first meeting and must mount a comeback on home soil to reach the decider in Istanbul.

Villa started the semi-finals as favourites, with Emery targeting a record-extending fifth Europa League as a manager.

However, the Spaniard has insisted it would not be a failure if his team fall short, admitting it is ‘very difficult’ to win major trophies. Villa have not won major silverware since 1996.

“To achieve the semi-final is a huge achievement. Winning a trophy is very difficult,” he said at his pre-match press conference.

“Very, very, very difficult. It’s not a defeat if we are not achieving a trophy. The only way forwards is to keep going, improving, having opportunities in the present and the future. We have now the opportunity but only one team wins.

“When I spoke before the first leg, we had 25% of the possibility to win a trophy. Now it’s maybe less because we started losing. We have 50% or maybe less to play the final. This is football and you must respect every competition and in Europe you must respect each team.”

Villa head into Thursday’s fixture on a run of three consecutive defeats across all competitions. When asked if it had been a difficult week for his team, Emery refuted that suggestion and said the feeling in the camp is excitment.

“Difficult? Wow. I am excited. 100%. So, so motivated. When I arrived here three-and-a-half years ago it was a dream to play a semi-final of Europa League.

“At the beginning of this season after five matches in the Premier League, before we started Europa League, I was worried about how we would finish the season.

“To be where we are in the league and to be playing the second leg of a semi final in the Europa League at home? Fantastic.”