41 years later, Aston Villa qualify for the Champions League!

Unai Emery changed Aston Villa history forever. In November 2022, the Villains were sixteenth, bordering the relegation zone. Consistency in the Premier League was the great goal of a club that had metal in its window (seven leagues, seven FA Cups, one European Cup…), but it only came after three seasons (2016-19) in the Championship (Second). and that he did not rise above tenth place for a decade

A year and a half later, Emery got Villa back on track in two outstanding seasons. Last season The Birmingham side climbed to seventh place to qualify for the Conference League in their first European adventure since 2011.. And in this campaign, Unai led the Villains to the top 4 in the Premier League and Champions League. They achieved this with one match remaining in Tottenham’s match against City. They will compete in the biggest continental competitions… 41 years later!

In the 1982/83 season. Villa, who beat Orejona against Bayern in De Kuip in the 1981/82 season., eliminated in the quarter-finals against Juventus. Four decades later, they will face off in the Champions League in a season whose format will change after their perennial battle with Tottenham for fourth place.

“The first goal at the start of the season was to try and compete in Europe again through the Premier League, and we achieved that,” reflects Emery, who has achieved Villa’s best league position since 1995-96, the year in which, surprisingly, they won their last title, the League Cup.. His consistency was key. They were in the top four for 23 days, beating bogeymen Manchester City (1-0), Arsenal (1-0 and 0-2)…

The first goal at the start of the season was to try and compete in Europe again through the Premier League, and we achieved that.

Unai Emery

First European semi-final in 42 years

Another milestone for Unai, who also led the Villains to their first European semi-final this year since 1982!However, Olympiacos of Mendilibar left them without a final and without the possibility of canceling the conference. “It’s a process, we reached the semi-finals for the first time, but it wasn’t enough. We need to continue,” reiterates Emery, who has set his sights on becoming a regular in Europe since landing at Villa Park. and win a trophy.

He reflected on this classification, bordering on “miracle,” McGinnone of the stars of the Villa: “Some of us have never been close to the Champions League in our lives. The coach has a no excuses mentality. “People wrote us off and we went unnoticed.”

The coach has a no excuses mentality. People rejected us and we went unnoticed

McGinn, Aston Villa player

Unai achieved half of his goals in the team with which He has extended his contract until 2027 and is a candidate for the Premier League manager of the year award.. “I love being here and I still have a lot of work to do.”said Unai, who turned Villa into a top team. It will continue to grow after the Champions League. Quite a plan.