Unai Emery ensured Aston Villa qualified for the Champions League and has now shared his goals for the competition ahead of next season.
The 2023/24 campaign showcased what Unai Emery’s project can bring to Aston Villa, as the Midlands club finished fourth in the Premier League table.
As expected, a host of changes are set to be made to the squad in preparation for the Champions League, with players poised to both depart and arrive at Villa Park this summer.
Emery and Monchi are working tirelessly to ensure deals are struck amid Villa’s PSR concerns, with the boss now taking the time to share his goals for 2024/25.
Unai Emery sets Champions League goal at Aston Villa ahead of 2024/25
Between the madness of the summer transfer window, Emery sat down with journalist Iker Valverde to discuss all things Villa with Spanish newspaper El Diario Vasco.
The Villa boss shared his thoughts on Villa’s partnership with Real Union and turned his attention to the upcoming 2024/25 campaign.
When touching on the Champions League, Emery explained what he sees as his and the squad’s ‘biggest challenge’ in preparation for next season.
“For Aston Villa, let’s see if we are able to maintain the Champions League. There are teams that have been entering and leaving, as can happen to Real Sociedad.
“My biggest challenge next season is to be competitive in the Champions League, not to participate for one year.”
Consistency and continuous improvement are clearly on Emery’s mind, which is refreshing to see considering how other Premier League sides have followed similar journeys to Villa with little reward in Europe.
Villa will want to improve on the highs of 2023/24
The English top flight saw Newcastle United rise from 11th in 2021/22 to fourth in 2022/23, and then sink in the Champions League last season.
Eddie Howe’s side finished bottom of the group and ended the Premier League campaign down in seventh, taking a considerable backward step after their highs of 2022/23.
The Magpies’ blueprint is not something that Emery hopes to follow at Villa, with the Spaniard’s goal to maintain rather than to place all faith into chasing a Champions League dream.
Judging by the Villans’ early moves in the transfer window, there is a sense that the 2023/24 successes weren’t enough, as Emery and Monchi bid to elevate the squad.
The capture of Ian Maatsen reinforces such opinion, with the 22-year-old being one of the stars of last term’s Champions League, posing as an upgrade at left-back.
It will be a fascinating summer ahead of what will be a memorable 2024/25 campaign at Villa Park, as Aston Villa return to Europe’s elite.
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