Unai Emery, manager of Aston Villa, spoke openly after leading the team to a victory over Freiburg, securing the club's first Europa League title.
Unai Emery, manager of the "Villans" Aston Villa, expressed great joy after leading the team to a 3-0 win against Freiburg to claim the 2025-26 Europa League title. This is the club's first win in this competition and Emery's fifth personal Europa League title (he previously won three with Sevilla and one with Villarreal).
Emery said, "It’s fantastic. European trophies bring us so many good things. For me personally, I always feel grateful for European competitions, especially the Europa League."
"I told my players that we need commitment and seriousness in this competition to show on the pitch that you are the protagonists, and they did just that!"
"Reaching the final and winning the trophy confirms the progress we are making. This is very important for us."
"Of course, it’s important for the fans as well. They have traveled with us throughout the season, making great efforts to stand by us and give us energy. We must take pride in everything we achieve together with our fans."
Regarding Villa’s future projects: "We are getting stronger and improving in every aspect. The club is working on expanding the stadium to accommodate an additional 10,000 spectators. We are also building and upgrading the training center slightly."
"I have ambitions, and certainly I need support from the club owners, everyone working at the club, and the players. They are supporting me, and we are working together. But we must set ambitious yet realistic goals. Every step we take is meaningful."