Spectacular European nights the new normal for Villa under Emery

Unai Emery has a proven track record in European competition, having won the Europa League three times with Sevilla and once at Villarreal. His arrival at Aston Villa in October 2022 marked a turning point for the club, which had been hovering near the bottom of the Premier League table. After a decade of struggles, including a relegation battle in the 2015-16 season, Villa now stand among Europe’s top teams, thanks to Emery’s leadership.

Aston Villa’s relegation to the Championship in 2016 was a low point, following a 1-0 loss to Manchester United that ended their 13-game unbeaten streak. The 2019-20 campaign brought a return to the Premier League, but the club lacked clarity until Emery took charge. Since then, his impact has been transformative, reshaping Villa’s identity and elevating their ambitions.

Thursday’s 7-1 aggregate victory over Bologna secured Villa’s place in the Europa League semi-finals, showcasing their improved form. This achievement is part of a steady climb under Emery, who has guided them to European qualification in just one season. With six matches left in the Premier League, Villa sit in fourth place, targeting a Champions League berth through the league table.

“If someone had told me two years ago we’d be competing in the Champions League and reaching an Europa League semi-final, I’d have bitten their hand off,” said Ollie Watkins, who netted three goals across the two legs against Bologna. “It’s incredible to be here, and we’re just savoring every step of this journey.”

Watkins, who joined Villa from Brentford in 2020, emphasized the team’s growth. “Each year we’ve learned from the experience, and trusting the manager has been crucial,” he added. “Emery’s expertise in European football has given us confidence to push further.”

Villa’s journey to the semi-finals mirrors their earlier Conference League run in the 2023-24 season, where they fell to Olympiakos on aggregate. Last season, they made history by reaching the Champions League quarter-finals, defeating Paris St-Germain and holding Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig to draws. This season’s progress underscores their consistent development under Emery.

Stiliyan Petrov, a former Villa midfielder, praised the team’s resilience. “Villa performed flawlessly tonight—every player contributed, and they’re fully entitled to this success,” he said. “The belief they’ve built is real, and it’s only the beginning.”

Emery’s restructuring of the coaching staff, including the appointment of Monchi as Villa’s football operations president in June 2023, has further solidified their European ambitions. The Spanish manager’s vision has turned Villa into a formidable force, with European semi-finals now a regular occurrence.