Unai Emery led Aston Villa to a return to Europe in his debut season and has guaranteed them at least a spot in the UEFA Europa League next term. They take on Olympiacos this week for a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League final, and the European specialist has been mightily impressed with his side’s return to European competition. “I am so proud of our process,” Emery told TNT Sports. After helping Aston Villa return to European football for the first time in 14 years, Unai Emery has explained how pleased he is with the club’s approach to their UEFA Europa Conference League campaign.
The Villains take on Olympiacos in their first major European final since 1982 on Thursday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, just days after sealing a spot in the UEFA Europa League next season with a draw against Chelsea.
Emery’s side will play the first leg at Villa Park before travelling to Greece next week with a spot in the Conference League final up for grabs, while also leading the race for the final UEFA Champions League spot in the Premier League.
Asked how he feels about the club’s first campaign in Europe since the 2010/11 season, Emery said he was “completely pleased” with how his squad has adapted while crediting their “very strong” performances at home for their progression to the last four.
“When we started this competition in the summer, in August at Hibernian, the first impact was the best one because we won and we were very focused trying to get [the Conference League] as a challenge for all the season,” he told TNT Sports ahead of Thursday’s tie.
“Now we are in the semi-final. The players have always respected the competition, respected the opponent, even though we are playing against some teams where the level is maybe less than ours, the league is maybe less than the Premier League.
“But always competing in Europe is difficult. To play against the teams we were facing are tough matches.
“We drew with Zrinski, lost in [Leiga] Warszawa, we draw against Ajax in Amsterdam, we lost against in Lille. More or less, [playing] away in Europe is always difficult.
“Of course, we were feeling confident at home and our success in this completion is because at Villa Park we feel very strong.”
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Villa have not lost in all six home games in the Conference League this season, which included a heavy 4-0 triumph against European heavyweights Ajax in the last 16.
Emery said he has been “so proud” of the team’s performances in Europe, especially as some players do not have any experience in the competition.
“To take experiences in Europe with Aston Villa, with some players who have experience and some who don’t have, is really exciting and I am so proud of our process here and now competing.
“Trying to be contenders to get to the end in the semi-final and then the final, adding more experience and more possibilities to win a trophy.”
Villa will compete in Europe again next year no matter what, whether that be in the Europa League or a shock appearance in the Champions League.
Emery insisted it is a “very exciting” moment for the supporters with the club competing on all fronts.
“I have been very proud of our focus each match,” the Villa boss said
“Our focus for this competition and of course, we were always talking about the first priority which is to always be consistent in the Premier League.
“I want to play a lot of matches because the consequence of that means we are being successful in different competitions.
“Now we are really looking forward to being contenders to be fourth [in the Premier League] with Tottenham, a tough dual, and in the [Conference League] semi-finals with Olympiacos after the groups, Lille and Ajax.”
“For our supporters, it’s a very exciting moment.”