Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has declared that the club has entered a new era of competing for trophies, following their Europa League triumph last season. The Villans have the chance to add more silverware on Wednesday night when they face Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup in Austria.
Historic European Success
Villa secured their first major trophy in 30 years by beating SC Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul to win the Europa League. That victory also marked their second major European honour, following their European Cup win in 1982. PSG, meanwhile, are aiming to win successive Super Cups after defeating Tottenham Hotspur on penalties last summer.
Emery is expecting a formidable challenge against PSG, but he and his players are embracing the opportunity. Speaking ahead of the match, he said: “If we are being successful, it’s because we are getting a good development in everything – about the club, about the players – and through it as well, we can add more followers or get more brand in the world of football.”
Emery's Pride and Ambition
The Spanish manager emphasised the significance of the occasion, stating: “To play (in the) Super Cup is another opportunity to be there – the opportunity to win a trophy, to play against PSG, the better team now in the world than other teams we can compare with them.” He added that enjoying the moment with supporters is crucial, noting: “How we are going to play, enjoying the moment we will have with our supporters for this Super Cup, is something for our history and future of this club. It’s really fantastic, because we are in the top positions when we are having matches like we are going to play.”
Emery acknowledged PSG’s status as favourites but expressed pride in his team’s progress: “Of course, PSG is a huge test, because normally they will have the opportunity as a favourite to win this trophy, but how we are collectively as a club – individually, even myself competing with Luis Enrique – is something that makes us so proud of how we are in the football world now.”
Building a Winning Team
Reflecting on his tenure, Emery highlighted the importance of consistency and progression: “It’s very important how we are doing the way, and in football we are trying to be successful through firstly building a winning team, and then with the positive consequences after it, to win trophies.” He also spoke of his personal connection to European competition, having managed in Europe for 16-17 consecutive years.
Emery concluded: “For me, Europe is very important personally, because I am playing in Europe as a manager, 16-17 years in a row. And of course, it gave me a lot, Europe. And to achieve it with Aston Villa is something I am feeling the club is taking a new era with this possibility to fight for trophies.” He detailed the club’s journey: “We played the semi-final three years ago, Conference League, we played the quarter-final (of the) Champions League two years ago, and we played the final and we have won this trophy last year in Europa League. It’s something that makes sense, my message when I arrived here.”
The match against PSG kicks off on Wednesday, August 12, and will be broadcast live on TNT Sports, available via HBO Max or Prime Video's HBO Max channel. Fans can also share their score predictions for the clash.
