After a fantastic Premier League campaign last season, where Aston Villa finished seventh in the Premier League, their highest position since 2010, Villa fans have an exciting European campaign to look forward to this year.
All this has been possible due to the progress Unai Emery has made since arriving at the club in 2022. The Spaniard will be hoping his side continues to make strides forward on the pitch in the latest campaign.
Emery knows how to get European success
VILLARREAL WIN THE EUROPA LEAGUE ???? pic.twitter.com/XW2xcQhix2
— B/R Football (@brfootball) May 26, 2021
After winning the UEFA Europa League four times, Emery is one of the most successful managers in European football history. He was victorious in the competition in three consecutive seasons between 2013 and 2016 with Sevilla, while in 2021, he listed the trophy for the fourth time with Villarreal.
When in charge of Arsenal during the 2018-19 campaign, he also led the Gunners to the final of the Europa League, but they were beaten by domestic rivals Chelsea.
That experience of having success in European competitions should prove very important to Villa this season. Emery will be bidding to deliver the club their first European trophy since they won the 2001 Intertoto Cup.
West Ham proved what was possible
This season’s UEFA Conference League is just the third renewal of the competition since it was inaugurated. West Ham achieved success back in May when they lifted the trophy after beating Fiorentina in the final.
The Hammers finished much lower than Aston Villa in the Premier League last season, but they still proved too strong for their rivals in the UEFA Conference League. Their triumph will give Aston Villa fans a lot of optimism that they can replicate what the East London club achieved. Their first goal will be to safely advance from the group stagegroup stage.
Star signings show how Villa is growing as a club
Emery on Emi Martínez: “He trained this morning. Tomorrow is the last training [before Liverpool] which will be important if he is going to be available or not. Hopefully, yes.” pic.twitter.com/WnqFH1921a
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 1, 2023
With World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, former Barcelona attacking midfielder Philip Coutinho and French winger Moussa Diaby all at the club, Aston Villa are doing a great job of attracting world-class players.
These big-name stars should help Aston Villa grow on and off the pitch. They are adding new fans all the time from places like Zambia in Africa, which not only improves their brand awareness but will also help their revenue stream.
Villa fans around the world will be hoping the club can take the next step in the Premier League and break into the top four this season. In the Zambian bet on the top four markets, they are 10/1 this season, and that represents great odds as Emery’s side have made a very positive start to the 2023/24 campaign.
Busy schedule
The biggest challenge Emery will have to overcome this season is the busy schedule his team has in front of them. They are taking part in four competitions, and if they go deep in Europe and the domestic clubs, they could be set to play over 60 fixtures.
Emery will need to use his full squad to ensure his players don’t become burnt out for the final months of the campaign.
Aston Villa’s opening game of their Europa Conference League group will come against Legia Warsaw in Poland on the 21st of September.
