Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has dismissed the idea that he is the “king” of the Europa League as he aims for his fifth title in the competition when his team faces Freiburg in the final in Istanbul on Wednesday.
Under Emery’s leadership, Villa has made significant strides in European competitions, reaching the semifinals of the Conference League in 2024 and the quarterfinals of the Champions League last year. They now stand just one victory away from securing their first major trophy in three decades.
Widely regarded as a Europa League expert, having won it three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal, Emery stated that his previous successes will not influence the outcome against Bundesliga’s Freiburg at Besiktas Park.
In a pre-match press conference, he remarked: “I am not a king in this competition. I am with Aston Villa in a new chapter now; all that I have accomplished is in the past. What matters is winning tomorrow with our current players against the opponent we face. This is a new journey, hopefully leading us into a new era.” He added, “I prefer not to dwell on past achievements. This year and our previous matches in the Conference League and Champions League have demonstrated our ability to compete at a high level.”
Since taking over from Steven Gerrard in November 2022, Emery has transformed Villa from relegation battlers to serious contenders for titles.
The squad now has a chance to conclude a remarkable season that has already seen them qualify for the Champions League and potentially secure their first major trophy since the 1996 League Cup, as well as their first European title since winning the European Cup in 1982.
Emery understands the pressure his players might feel but encourages them to see it as a positive aspect of participating in high-stakes matches like the one on Wednesday night.
He explained: “This is a process for how we could achieve success by building our team and its structure. Tomorrow presents a new experience, and it’s crucial that we manage our emotions positively. We’ve navigated many emotional matches recently, and while the pressure is present, it can be viewed as a positive aspect of competing for something significant. Naturally, we have experience on our side.”
Villa’s success this season has been particularly impressive considering they failed to win any of their first six matches across all competitions. Emery, who expressed concerns during that challenging start, commended his players for their remarkable resilience.
He noted: “We faced a rough start to the season for various reasons. The way the players responded in tough moments has been truly remarkable. We matured during challenging times, which has been our most significant attribute this season—maturity and responsibility. At the beginning, I was genuinely worried and sought solutions at every juncture. I needed the players and the work we did, and we managed to succeed together.”
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Captain John McGinn shares his manager’s optimism but emphasizes the team’s focus on the upcoming match.
“I take great pride in the progress this club has made and the potential it holds,” he stated. “As the manager has noted, we don’t want to approach this match with excessive celebration; our focus needs to remain on the task at hand. We acknowledge Freiburg’s quality and the difficulty of reaching a final, and we must treat them with the utmost respect. Continued success as a club is contingent on maintaining our current trajectory. On a personal note, after all these years, this is truly my proudest moment as captain.”
Information from PA was utilized in this report.