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Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is focused on writing a “new chapter” in the club’s history as they gear up for a crucial Europa League semi-final clash with Nottingham Forest.
Speaking ahead of Thursday’s first leg at the City Ground, Emery emphasised his desire to move past previous near-misses, including semi-final exits in both the Conference League and the FA Cup.
While Villa have not secured a major trophy in three decades, the Spaniard believes his squad can leverage past experiences to finally break through on the continental stage.
The matchup features two storied English clubs with rich European histories; Forest famously won back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980, while Villa claimed the title in 1982.
Emery, a four-time winner of this competition, acknowledged the difficulty of the task, noting that Forest’s current eight-match unbeaten streak and their own historic pedigree make them a formidable opponent.
He stressed that while the history of both clubs is significant, the focus must remain on the present opportunity to return to European glory.
Beyond the quest for silverware, Villa enter the tie with the added confidence of a strong domestic campaign, sitting firmly on track for Champions League qualification next season.
Despite his personal record of success in the Europa League, Emery insisted that every tournament is a unique challenge.
He described this semi-final as a pivotal “new chapter” for the Birmingham-based side, aiming to transform their recent consistency into a definitive trophy-winning run.
