Why Unai Emery won't follow Ange Postecoglou plan in pursuit of Aston Villa glory
Aston Villa have been installed as the favourites to win the Europa League this season, but Unai Emery has often warned about Premier League form
Aston Villa have been tipped as the favourites to clinch the Europa League this season, potentially ending their trophy drought in the process like Tottenham last season. Despite these being merely bookmakers' odds, the fact that Unai Emery has previously won the competition four times - including three consecutive victories with Sevilla - places the club in a strong position to progress far into the knockout stages.
For Spurs, the final in Bilbao against Manchester United was a do-or-die match. Even after securing the win and finally lifting a trophy, Ange Postecoglou was shown the door - a decision he could hardly contest given the club's dismal league performance.
The recently sacked Nottingham Forest boss revealed that he had prioritised the Europa League from the start of the year, knowing that only a trophy win could elevate the club to new heights.
"I think when we got to the end of January, the end of the transfer window, and assessed our situation, I just made a decision there and then that this was the trophy we were going to go for," he explained. "And probably was at odds with what other people at the club believed at the time we should do.
"Again, that's understandable. But I just really believed we could win this. And everything we've done since then, everything we've done in terms of games, the teams I've selected, has been about making sure that when these games came around, the Europa games, that we're in the best possible condition to tackle them.
"That's come at a cost, for sure, in the league. And I've got to take the responsibility for that. I just felt like the end-game of winning something was more important, and it was the only way I was going to do it."
For Villa, winning a trophy is paramount at the earliest opportunity, and there should be no hesitation in admitting that the Europa League is a competition the club can realistically win this season.
Whether that materialises or not is another matter, but it's fair to say that Villa have the deepest squad, the highest wage bill, and the top manager among the contenders. For these reasons, it's hard to find a reason why they shouldn't be aiming for the title.
The time to win is now, following a rapid ascent under Emery. However, Villa's European adventures are distinctly separate from their Premier League campaign - a point Emery has consistently emphasised.
The Villa gaffer frequently mentions how the true measure of consistency is shown across 38 Premier League matches, and that competing at this level lays the groundwork for his team to handle the pressures of European football.
Following Villa's disappointing FA Cup semi-final loss to Crystal Palace at Wembley back in April, Emery stated: "The Premier League is our priority. Through it we can again play in Europe next year.
"To play in Europe consistently is the objective and the priority when I arrived here. This is the message I send always to the supporters: to be consistent in Europe, to try to play for a trophy - we did this year and last year we did as well in the Conference League."
While winning the Europa League would guarantee Champions League football, Emery won't be throwing everything at the competition at the expense of the Premier League - which may instead act as a safety net should Villa not succeed in Europe.
Villa's main goal each season remains qualification for European football. From there, Emery can use the depth of his squad to maximise the club's chances of lifting trophies, with more competitions offering greater opportunities to rotate players and maintain momentum across multiple fronts.
"It's fantastic to play Europe," Emery said earlier this season, before the first European match against Bologna. "I really love playing in Europe and I am so grateful Aston Villa is giving me now the opportunity to play in Europe as well.
"Of course, it will help the club to get it, with our experiences or with our work, but of course, everything is starting because Aston Villa is doing the effort to give us as well a lot of things necessary through the players, through our development in everything, to get Europe.
"We played in Conference League two years ago, we played in Champions League last year, and this year we are playing Europa League, and really, it's fantastic. I am telling the players, for me, Europe is always a dream.
"To try to get one way in this competition being protagonists, because to win is very difficult, but to be protagonists during the way is really very exciting.
"And of course, to share with our supporters. We watched it, two years ago, playing in Conference League, Villa Park always was amazing, the atmosphere we created.
"Last year in Champions League, the same. This year in Europe, hopefully, I think the supporters are excited in this competition like we are, like I am, like the club as well.
"How we can get another competition for a trophy, another competition for Europe, another competition to share special moments together, I think is fantastic."
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