Aston Villa gear up to host Bologna in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, and head coach Unai Emery has sent a strong message about their ambitions, rallying the troops ahead of the showdown.
The Spanish manager has transformed Villa from a bottom-half Premier League team to a European contender in just two years and emphasised his desire for the club to break barriers and consistently challenge for silverware.
Villa’s recent performances have been impressive. They have made their best start to a league season since 1998 and are unbeaten in their Champions League campaign, boasting victories over Young Boys and even a notable 1-0 win against Bayern Munich. This strong form sees them sitting sixth, conceding no goals so far.
“I don’t want to waste my time here, that is my message,” Emery stated (via the BBC). “We want to achieve the objectives, and one of them is to play in the Champions League. It is not just about being there by chance – I want us to stay there for a long time.
“You have to be resilient. We want to be strong in the idea in our mind and create a strong mentality to always break barriers.”
Villa enter this fixture with confidence following their recent win over Fulham, where Ollie Watkins’ stunning header and an own goal from Issa Diop secured a 3-1 victory after an early scare.
In contrast, Bologna are coming off a frustrating 2-2 draw against Genoa, which leaves them 12th in Serie A. They have struggled under Vincenzo Italiano and will need to raise their game if they hope to take a positive result from this fixture.
Villa are the favourites to pick up three points, and it is a testament to the excellent work Emery has done since replacing Steven Gerrard.
With Emery’s ambitious mindset and Villa’s current form, the stage is set for an exciting encounter in Birmingham. The stakes are high, and both teams are eager to make their mark in Europe.
