Europa League 'boss' Unai Emery seeking Aston Villa resurgence in familiar territory
Having recently been described as the “boss” of the Europa League, Unai Emery must hope the competition which has delivered him so much glory now provides a lift for Villa.
No-one has won Europe’s second club competition more often than Emery, no matter its name.
There were three consecutive triumphs with Sevilla between 2013 and 2015 and then claimed a record-breaking fourth crown with Villarreal in 2021.
Such form, coupled with Villa’s impressive run to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and the apparent strength of Premier League clubs in European competition, sees his team installed as favourites with most bookmakers to lift the trophy in Istanbul next May.
It’s a tag which currently feels tough to square with a team who have failed to win any of their first six matches of the season and whose last performance prompted the manager to brand the players “lazy”.
But Thursday also offers a return to Villa Park after three straight away matches and Emery, who insists his team have improved since the international break, is confident better times are ahead.
“Tomorrow is again our challenge to show how we are now after more days working, after those three matches we played away, we are again playing at Villa Park,” he said.
“Now, again, we are a different team. Our emotional moments are coming again, better and better.
“Tomorrow, I will want to share our improvements in everything.
“The atmosphere will be again, I think, fantastic for the team, for the players, to help to support, to be everybody excited, the players as well to use the energy, being positive, showing the capacity to play together (and) individually.”
Bologna are familiar opponents for Villa, having also visited in the group stages of last season’s Champions League.
That night, goals from John McGinn and Jhon Duran sent Emery’s men top of the table, another proud moment in a tenure which has been full of them.
Tonight, with the mood at its lowest since Emery first walked through the door, any kind of win will do.
