Unai Emery’s Aston Villa will face Julian Schuster’s Freiburg in Istanbul on Wednesday.
Unai Emery is on the cusp of another significant achievement.
A potential fifth Europa League title is within reach, an accomplishment that would solidify his legacy at Aston Villa.
Emery already holds the record for the most Europa League titles, with four.
Freiburg stands as the final hurdle on Wednesday, marking Emery’s sixth European final. Only Giovanni Trapattoni, the former manager of AC Milan, Juventus, and Bayern Munich, has surpassed this with seven finals.
Emery has guided Villa to their first European final in 44 years, since their European Cup victory, and is on the verge of ending a 30-year trophy drought.
The 54-year-old arrived at Villa in October 2022, expressing his ambition to win silverware. That ambition could be realized in Istanbul.
At Besiktas Park on Wednesday, Emery will be on the touchline for his sixth Europa League final in 12 years.
He experienced defeat in the 2019 final against Chelsea during his tenure at Arsenal, a period widely regarded as unsuccessful.
However, his triumphs in the competition are unparalleled. He secured three titles with Sevilla in 2014, 2015, and 2016, including a victory over Liverpool, followed by a penalty shootout win against Manchester United with Villarreal in 2021.
Emery maintains that past achievements will have no bearing on the upcoming match against their Bundesliga counterparts.
“I am not a king in this competition,” he stated. “I am now with Aston Villa in a new chapter. My past accomplishments are in the past, and they do not guarantee victory.”
“I need to secure a win [in Turkey] with the current players and with Villa. This is a new beginning, a new opportunity, and hopefully a new era.”
“Without respect for our opponents, we are more likely to lose. Our consistent respect for Europe is the reason we are here. This is the strong mentality we’ve always had.”
“We face a significant challenge, a monumental challenge. Are we thinking about celebrating on Friday? Absolutely not.”
The former Paris St Germain manager has overseen 115 Europa League matches, winning 71. His best win rate in the competition is with Villa, at 85.7%.
These victories are a competition record. Since the beginning of the 2023-24 season, Villa leads all teams in European match wins with 26.
Emery, surprisingly omitted from the Premier League’s Manager of the Season nominations, addressed his players on Saturday morning, following up on Friday’s 4-2 victory over Liverpool, which secured Champions League qualification.
He also reminded them of the club’s progress since he succeeded Steven Gerrard in late 2022, highlighting a Europa Conference League semi-final appearance, a Champions League quarter-final, and two top-five finishes.
Emery’s communication has been crucial, particularly when he refrained from criticizing his players at half-time during the heavy defeat by Tottenham earlier in the month.
The squad appreciated this approach, viewing it as a supportive reminder of their collective achievements.
Unai Emery supervised open training at Besiktas Park in Istanbul on Tuesday.
In 2007, while managing Almería, Emery used a dice to determine his starting XI against Deportivo La Coruna, emphasizing the importance of every squad member and boosting their confidence. The team won 3-0.
However, the meticulous Emery, who analyzes opposition footage during his gym workouts, will not leave such a crucial evening to chance.
Defender Tyrone Mings commented, “The manager is somewhat of a European genius, isn’t he?”
“He consistently emphasizes the Premier League’s significance. We discuss increasing revenues to compete with the existing restrictions.”
“Yet, he continues to deliver remarkable European runs, all while concentrating on the Premier League. The squad and the manager deserve significant recognition for striking this balance. It’s been a special period.”
Villa has undergone significant transformation in the decade since their relegation in 2015-16, when they finished at the bottom of the Premier League with only 17 points and three wins.
Three seasons in the Championship followed before the club returned to the top flight under Dean Smith, with Mings joining from Bournemouth on loan in 2018 before completing a £20m permanent transfer.
The England defender has witnessed Villa’s resurgence and recognizes that Wednesday presents a unique opportunity to add another chapter to that narrative.
“It’s an incredible moment. In recent years, fans have seen other clubs win European and domestic titles, creating a sense of envy among our fanbase,” he said.
“It’s a special time.”
In the 44 years since their European Cup triumph, Villa has progressed beyond the quarter-finals in Europe only twice, both under Emery.
The Conference League semi-final defeat to eventual winners Olympiakos two years ago was a missed opportunity, which Villa has already surpassed by reaching Wednesday’s final.
Last season’s thrilling Champions League quarter-final loss to eventual champions Paris St Germain also indicated Villa’s ability to compete with Europe’s elite.
Previously, their European Cup defence ended with a quarter-final exit to Juventus, and they suffered a Uefa Cup quarter-final defeat by Atletico Madrid in 1997-98.
The club has endured a prolonged period without significant success and silverware, but European Cup winner Nigel Spink believes a victory in Istanbul would mark a turning point.
“Achieving something significant with the club elevates you to a higher status,” said the goalkeeper, who played 460 times for the club.
“In terms of memories and the overall experience of winning, I believe they will be alongside our group.”
“I firmly believe that if we can retain this manager, the potential is limitless, and I truly think the Champions League trophy might not be too distant.”