Aston Villa’s head coach Unai Emery and defender Matty Cash spoke to the media on Wednesday evening, one day before their Europa League quarter-final first leg against Bologna at the Renato Dall’Ara. Both showed great respect for a Bologna team they are familiar with and are determined not to underestimate.
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Emery arrived in Bologna with promising news, as John McGinn and Youri Tielemans have returned from injury, giving him more tactical flexibility for what he described as one of Villa’s toughest ties at this stage of the tournament.
Utilizing the extended break post-international window, Emery emphasized the importance of mentally refocusing players who have been with their national teams. He also confirmed that Jadon Sancho remains sidelined but is expected to return in about two weeks.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 25: Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, gestures from the sidelines during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Aston Villa FC and Bologna FC 1909 at Villa Park on September 25, 2025. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
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Bologna vs Aston Villa – Emery: ‘Bologna aggressive, great respect for them’
Speaking about Bologna, the Aston Villa manager expressed genuine admiration for their capabilities.
“They have beaten Roma, and Vincenzo Italiano has led them to three finals in the last three years,” he stated, via TuttoMercatoWeb. “He’s adept in knockout matches, having reached two European finals with Fiorentina and won the Coppa Italia. I hold great respect for Bologna and am fully aware of the challenges they present.”
Emery commended the consistency of Bologna’s footballing philosophy, highlighting their quality since the Thiago Motta era up to now.
Regarding the tactical challenge posed by Bologna’s aggressive man-marking, Emery remained realistic: “In Italy, many teams employ this strategy; Atalanta was one of the pioneers. It’s crucial for us to adapt to their aggression while still playing our style. The chances of qualification are 50-50, and we need to be resilient under pressure and patient without the ball.”
Meanwhile, Cash offered a succinct yet respectful insight about the upcoming match. The Polish international mentioned his dialogue with Skorupski, the injured Bologna goalkeeper, highlighting the quality of the opposing team post their previous encounter.
“They are an excellent side; after we defeated them, they didn’t lose again,” Cash remarked, via TMW. “So it won’t be easy.”
His straightforward approach for the tie was clear: “There are 180 minutes to play, and anything can happen. Our goal is to win and set ourselves up for an advantage in the second leg.”