Unai Emery believes Aston Villa’s victory in the Europa League final is a confirmation of how the club is progressing.
Villa claimed their first major trophy since 1996 on Wednesday with a 3-0 win over Freiburg in Istanbul.
Youri Tielemans’ volley from a well-worked corner broke the deadlock in the 41st minute, before a curling effort from Emi Buendia put them ahead with the last kick of the first half.
Morgan Rogers made it 3-0 minutes before the hour mark, ending any slim hopes of a Freiburg comeback and effectively winning Villa’s first European Cup for 44 years.
Emery hails ‘significant’ move for Aston Villa
Villa had failed in the semi-finals of the Conference League and the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season.
And Emery hailed Villa’s success in going the distance in a competition they have already won five times as an important step in the club’s journey.
“We’re always here talking about our experiences. We’re trying to use our experiences here,” Emery told TNT Sports. “We are playing the semi-final, we are playing the quarter-final in Europe, Conference and Champions League.
“This final is proof of how we continue, it is very important for them.
“Yes, it is important for the fans, they went and said the whole season they made a big effort to say that they always give strength and we must try to be proud of everything we do as our fans.
“And how this club won [European Cup] title in 1982. And to once again compete for the title in Europe is something that makes sense in everything we do.”
“We are getting stronger, progress in everything, the club is working to expand the stadium by 10,000 people. We are building and slowly changing the training center.
“We are trying to demand things by force, we are playing in Europe, next year we will be in the Champions League. It makes sense how we get this development with the players, we have extended the contracts. But it is important that we always have to be very stubborn in our plan, in our project. Because the project can only make sense if we win.”
Asked if Villa had become a ‘place’ for players rather than a stepping stone for some traditional heavyweights, Emery said: “Of course. [that is part of the plan]. We are making progress. We are playing the final. We win trophies. I think the product is also growing. We need this again. Trying to improve in all things. Brand is very important. And how football looks at us. As a team, determined and progressive. This is our next step.
“I wish and I need your support. The owners, everyone who works at the club. The players, they also follow us. We do it together. But we must try to put this desire, be clear and face the facts. All the steps forward we are making make sense.
“Next year we will play in the Champions League and here is the challenge, the Premier League is the most difficult league in the world, fighting with the top seven, top five, top four is very difficult, I hope we can get close to teams like City and Arsenal. We congratulate them on this title.”
“It’s the biggest challenge we have in the Premier League. Why? At first we don’t participate in the top seven. There are seven top teams. The top six, and Newcastle is the seventh. And we’re trying to get there. Trying not to change there. We’re achieving it. But keeping it is our challenge. And then, being there in Europe.
“Getting this cup adds experience to us and those experiences for the players are important. Because we can play next year and try to fight for trophies.
“Last year with the FA Cup and Champions League semi-finals and quarter-finals, we lost – experience for us. But we lost in this game because we deserved it, because we deserved more against Crystal Palace. Today, I was ready to win, I was ready to lose. Experience for me. Yes, winning is better.”
