What Unai Emery said after Villa’s Champions League qualification confirmed

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has given his reaction after it was confirmed that we have qualified for the Champions League next season.
Tottenham’s defeat to Man City on Tuesday night ensured that we will finish in fourth place in the Premier League table this season, and the Villa staff, players and fans were able to celebrate the incredible achievement during our End of Season Awards party

It has been a sensational run since Emery was appointed in October 2022, as he has taken us from facing the threat of relegation to finishing seventh and qualifying for Europe in his first seven months at the club. Now, in his first full campaign at the helm, he’s guided Villa to fourth spot and the Champions League.

Everyone involved deserves credit for the part that they’ve played in that too, including the players, who have been superb this year as we’ve shown great quality but also resilience and character to respond to adversity.

Emery was keen to praise them as well as the Villa supporters, as he gave a speech at the ceremony following confirmation that we will be playing Champions League football next season.

“Thank you so much. Really, this is a very special day,” he said, as per VillaTV. “It is our dream. When we started the season this was the most objective, there was seven teams who were bigger contenders more than us to be there.

“We focused on the Premier League strongly. With the injured players and it is the worst in football when players get long injuries. But they were in our mind always. Then Kamara, Jacob Ramsey too.

“The team really always they were focusing to commit strongly to get the objective we had. It is fantastic. Why it’s the first objective? After the Premier League to play in the Champions League is the best. It is the best.

“You can play in England against the best teams in the world and it is difficult. When you play in the Champions League you are playing the best from other countries and it is amazing.

“We are always responsible for the history here and the history at Aston Villa is so long and successful. But even before the Champions League, we knew before that we had to increase our level and be demanding and to dream to get it.

“Of course now to win the Champions League like Aston Villa did in ’82! If we are there it is easier if we are not! The most important is to have dreams and work to them. I am very proud of you and the players. I want to enjoy more and more. Next year the new challenge starts for us to build again a team who is strong to increase our level.

“It is always to enjoy with you, the supporters. You are the heart of the club. Thank you very much. Up the Villa.”

While he’ll still be focused on finishing the campaign with a win against Crystal Palace on Sunday, Emery and the management team will no doubt be hard at work already as they strategise for the upcoming summer transfer window.

In order to sustain our progress and competitiveness in the Premier League as well as give a positive account of ourselves in the Champions League, we’ll need to continue to strengthen the squad where needed and continue to get more out of the current players at his disposal.

There will also be a huge boost over the summer in getting key players back from long-term injuries and they’ll have a vital role to play, and so it’s time to celebrate and enjoy what we’re witnessing from this Villa squad, as they continue to deliver some wonderful memories and achievements.