Unai Emery has reaffirmed his commitment to Aston Villa, insisting he is happy at the club and feels fully valued as he leads an ambitious long-term project.
Villa ended a 30-year wait for major silverware by defeating Freiburg 3-0 in the Europa League final, handing Emery a remarkable fifth title in the competition. Since arriving at Villa Park, the Spaniard has transformed the club, guiding them to Champions League qualification, a Conference League semi-final, an FA Cup semi-final, and a Champions League quarter-final.
Despite finally delivering a trophy, Emery insists his work is far from complete.
“We want to win every match and every competition,” he told Despejados. “We will face PSG in the Super Cup, and we will prepare to win that too.”
Emery explained that his coaching philosophy has always centred on understanding a team’s potential and pushing beyond its limits. Reflecting on previous spells with Lorca, Almeria, Valencia, Sevilla, Villarreal, and Arsenal, he highlighted the importance of constant growth and learning.
He believes Aston Villa are on a similar path, adding that the club’s European Cup triumph in 1982 and recent Europa League success provide a platform for even greater achievements.
Although Villa may not yet match the depth of teams like Arsenal over a full Premier League season, Emery believes they are closing the gap.
The Villa boss, who signed a contract extension until 2029, also revealed the personal principle that has guided his career.
“I have a personal rule: I want to feel valued where I am because those people know you best,” he said. “At Aston Villa, I feel recognised professionally, and every year I want to keep improving.”
After 18 consecutive seasons managing in European competition, Emery says the Champions League now represents his next great challenge as Villa chase more European success.
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