Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has set his sights on continued success after guiding the club to Europa League glory, insisting the triumph can help narrow the gap to the Premier League's so-called 'big six' in commercial terms.
Historic Victory in Istanbul
Villa's emphatic 3-0 victory over Freiburg in Istanbul ended a 30-year wait for silverware, with captain John McGinn lifting the club's first European trophy since 1982. The win came just five days after Emery's side secured Champions League qualification with a stunning 4-2 home victory over Liverpool, a result that had been their primary objective for the season.
Winning a major trophy has cemented Emery and many of his players as club legends. Reflecting on the achievement, Emery said: "It is something very difficult, how we achieved it and how we settled at the beginning of the project, with the owners, the players and the club. But the club is doing a huge effort to try and be consistent in this way."
Consistency Is Key
Emery emphasised the importance of consistency moving forward. "Consistency now is the most important word I have in my mind. Consistency in everything, to keep the level we are. I told you at the beginning of the season how I was worried and upset. After how we reacted, I can tell you and the supporters I am so, so happy and proud. Achieving the Champions League and this trophy is confirming my worth since I started here."
Looking ahead, the Spaniard acknowledged the challenge of maintaining success. "Now, next year, the challenge is to compete in the Premier League again. To keep it is the priority. This consistency is difficult to keep for some time, but that is the message."
Bridging the Gap
Emery is realistic about the financial disparities between Villa and their rivals. "My ambition, of course, the club must think in this way, the players as well. We are going to start again not being contenders in the Premier League because again there are another seven teams at the beginning more of a contender than us. We must try to reduce the distances. My idea in our development is to be a contender to be in the top six for next year because we are improving and having more opportunities to be there."
It is well documented that many of Villa's rivals boast far superior revenue streams, giving them greater flexibility in the transfer market. Emery hopes that ending the trophy drought, especially on the European stage, can elevate the club's profile. "Aston Villa is a huge brand with a huge history. But in the last 25 years, other teams with the same level could improve more, for different reasons. They had more investment from the owners and it was open - what they were investing. Maybe Chelsea, with Abramovich, and teams like that. The process they did, they have an advantage with us. But now, with the moment and the process we have, we are trying to increase our revenue and increase our brand, trying to improve as well our capacity."
Off-Pitch Developments
The club is also investing in infrastructure, with works underway at Villa Park to increase capacity. "The club is doing works in Villa Park to add the capacity; that is one step forward for the club. How we are competing, being close with the teams who have the highest brand in world football, maybe we can reduce the distance. People watching around the world can watch Aston Villa, playing at the level we are. This is the objective. My idea as well is to try and exploit our capacity with the players, individually, collectively and tactically, with the level we are performing at, we aim to reduce the gap on the pitch."
Progress Under Emery
Since Emery joined Villa three and a half years ago, the club has grown rapidly and now has the chance to secure a top-four finish for the second time under his leadership this weekend. Last season, a sixth-placed finish saw Villa miss out on Champions League qualification on goal difference, but they have handled the demanding Thursday-to-Sunday schedule impeccably this term.
"Of course, it is very difficult to win a trophy, to be in Europe and compete in the Premier League with the teams we are competing against," Emery continued. "Those seven teams are contender more than us this year and for the next year because their budget is more than us and they can spend more money. This is the first reality. But of course, we have our capacity to improve and to compete, reducing the distance. We did it."
Emery's ambition remains undimmed. "To do more, of course, is my ambition and my dream. But I know it is very difficult. This is a huge challenge and I am trying to get myself here this ambitious challenge. If the club and the players are following us, the supporters are following us but understanding the reality and the real position we are, it is a strong argument to be proud and continue in this development."
No Limits to Dreams?
Asked if it is realistic to suggest that there are no limits to Villa's dreams, Emery said: "Yes, but understanding as well if we are not achieving it, to get balance. Maybe one year we are not getting it. We must try to be consistent. Last year, we played Champions League and got to the quarter finals, a fantastic two legs against PSG. The last match we played, the day 38 against Manchester United, and we lost, was of course a frustration. But we got the balance, after we did not achieve, to keep being consistent and demanding in our process."
He added: "We had some troubles at the beginning of the season which, hopefully, this year we are not going to have. How we reacted this season, to finish in the top five, makes sense of our way here. If we are frustrated and not getting the balance, it is a problem. Of course, we got the balance, myself and the club. But we must also teach our supporters the ambition and, if we are not getting there as well, keep balance."
