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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.
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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.
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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.
