Unai Emery says Aston Villa will draw on two painful semi-final exits to go one better as they prepare for Thursday’s Europa League first leg at Nottingham Forest, in what is the first all-Midlands UEFA tie in the history of European football.
The City Ground plays host to a match unlike any that has come before in continental competition, with two clubs separated by just 50 miles both chasing a place in the Istanbul final.
For Emery, it is a third semi-final with the club, and he is clear-eyed about what the previous two have taught him.
“Different competitions, different circumstances. The semi-final against Olympiacos two years ago, we lost, but we were also in the Premier League fighting to finish fourth. We finished that season tired and with some injuries. We lost, we accepted it, and it was a process we went through at that moment.
“Last year, we played the FA Cup semi-final and went to Wembley. It was my first experience of a semi-final at Wembley in the FA Cup. We lost against Crystal Palace — another experience. But they were two different situations: against Olympiacos it was over two legs, and against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup it was 90 minutes.
“We are going to use those experiences to do better this time.”
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Emery: ‘It is a key moment’
Villa arrive at the City Ground having won nine consecutive Europa League games, with Emery having progressed from each of his last five semi-finals in the competition. But the Spaniard is taking nothing for granted, particularly given the form Forest have been in.
“It is a key moment in this competition. How we have been performing has been fantastic, but now the semi-final is 50-50 between the two teams. It is very important for both sides. Nottingham Forest have great history in Europe, having won the Champions League, and we have our own history as well – though not recently. Now, both teams want to keep doing something important in Europe.”
Forest arrive on the back of nine goals in two games after hammering Burnley 4-1 and Sunderland 5-0 in successive league outings, and Emery made clear he is under no illusions about the threat they pose.
“They are different, and I expect it to be a long match. Why? Because they are performing really well and are now playing with confidence – it is really impressive. They have scored four or five goals in the matches they have played.
“In the Europa League, the way they are playing is very competitive. In the last two rounds against Porto and Midtjylland, they competed fantastically, even with tight results. I expect a difficult match and a very intelligent match. We must play intelligently and try to enjoy it too – we must enjoy the preparation, the match itself, after the match, and the days between the legs.”
‘Now is not the time to be selfish’
With Villa also fighting for a top-five finish and Champions League qualification in the Premier League, Emery called on every member of his squad to be ready to contribute, regardless of their role.
“We are in the semi-final of the Europa League and near the end of the Premier League season, with our target so close and very important – to achieve European qualification and Champions League football next season.
“Every player must be focused, playing with excitement and ready to play 90 minutes, 30 minutes, or even just a few minutes – this is the moment to contribute. Now is not the time for individual players to be selfish. Now is the time for the team to be together. Everybody is involved in a key moment this season, and in the important target we are facing.
“I am always focused on each moment. If I can take a moment to reflect, how we are performing this season is really fantastic – reaching the semi-final of the Europa League and competing in the Premier League for a top-five finish is very good. But we need to win tomorrow. In football, we need to win, win, win – it is the only way to survive in the future.”
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