Aston Villa: How Unai Emery turned spectacular European nights into Villa’s new normal
Emery replaced Steven Gerrard as Villa manager in October 2022, with Villa finishing just above the relegation zone on goal difference.
The former Arsenal and Villarreal boss brought with him his backroom staff, with many of the old guard leaving.
Former Sevilla goalkeeper Monchi also joins Villa as president of football operations in June 2023 – he previously worked with Emery at Sevilla and won three Europa League titles together.
Emery made an immediate impact, imposing structure, clarity, and belief on a Villa side that was once again flirting with relegation to guide them to a top-seven finish and European qualification in his first season.
The following campaign proved that progress was no fluke.
Turning Villa Park into a fortress, they established themselves as top-four contenders during 2023–24, while also reaching the semi-finals of the Conference League, where they were beaten 6–2 on aggregate by Olympiacos.
“The first year we got here in the Conference League, a lot of us hadn’t played in Europe, so there was a lot of pressure when we got to the latter stages,” Watkins said.
“Every year we take and learn something from it. And the manager has to be trusted because he is well-experienced in this competition. He has won it many times so we trust what he tells us and keep moving forward.”
Their first taste of top-tier European competition since 1982–83 came last season when they reached the Champions League quarter-finals against Emery’s former team, Paris Saint-Germain.
And on their way to the last eight, they recorded memorable league-stage wins against Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig, while also holding Juventus to a goalless draw.
And this season’s run on the continental stage underlines their upward trajectory under the Spaniard.
Watkins expressed, “Reaching the semi-finals and surpassing last year’s performance in the Champions League is a remarkable accomplishment for us.”
“We are thoroughly enjoying this competition and that is where we want to get to the semi-finals.”
“I’m pleased. We were organised, and we tried to impose our ideas and style, which is not easy against Bologna,” Emery told TNT Sports.
“We are pleased with the way we performed in this competition. It was fantastic. We are in the semi-finals, but there is still work to do.”
