Aston Villa’s manager Unai Emery is eager for his team to continue breaking barriers as they prepare to host Bologna in the Champions League on Tuesday. Defender Matty Cash has expressed confidence in the club’s potential, stating, “Aston Villa has not got a ceiling” since Emery’s appointment nearly two years ago.
Emery is set to commemorate this milestone on Thursday, a period during which he has dramatically altered Villa’s fortunes. When he took over in November 2022, the club was barely above the Premier League relegation zone but secured an impressive 3-1 win against Manchester United in his first match.
As Villa gears up for their Champions League clash, they aim to maintain their perfect record following a historic victory against Bayern Munich in their last outing. Cash reflected on the remarkable growth of the club since he joined from Nottingham Forest in September 2020: “In the last four years, the club has just gone through the roof. The quality in every single department has increased, and I believe we can aim for the top.”
Looking ahead, Emery hopes that this season, the club’s first in Europe’s premier competition since 1982-83, will serve as a launchpad for future success. “We are there at this moment, but I want to stay there for a long time,” he emphasized. “It’s difficult, and we might face challenges, but we need to be resilient. Our aim is to cultivate a strong mentality and constantly push ourselves to break new barriers.”
When asked about the most significant advancement during his tenure, Emery, who recently extended his contract until 2029, highlighted a core message he shared with his players from day one: “I told them, ‘I don’t want to waste my time here, and I don’t want you to waste your time here. We want to maintain our current level in the Champions League and strive to become contenders for trophies.’”
In Tuesday’s match, Villa could face one of their own in Samuel Iling-Junior, who joined Bologna on loan this summer after signing with Juventus. The England Under-21 winger, having made five substitute appearances for the Serie A side, is eligible to play against his parent club.
