Unai Emery has set his sights on leading Aston Villa to their first FA Cup triumph since 1957 and completing a memorable end to the season by qualifying for the Champions League. The team’s pursuit of a top-five finish in the Premier League will be temporarily put on hold as they prepare for a crucial FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace at Wembley.
Villa’s campaign has been marked by Emery’s drive to end the club’s 29-year trophy drought, which stretches back to their 1996 League Cup success. Now, with an eye on silverware, the Spanish coach is determined to secure both an FA Cup victory and a Champions League berth for his team.
Emery’s approach to the remainder of the season involves focusing on both objectives securing European football through a high Premier League finish and clinching a trophy in the FA Cup. When asked if winning the FA Cup is more important than securing a Champions League spot, Emery explained his balanced perspective. He noted that at the start of the season, the team set objectives across all competitions, including the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup. With only two competitions left for Villa to pursue, Emery’s message was clear: the team is focused on both paths to success.
Emery pointed out that while the Premier League offers the most direct route to qualifying for Europe, winning the FA Cup would also secure a European spot. As a result, the team is not choosing one competition over the other but is determined to perform well in both. “We are choosing both competitions strongly because we have two ways for our positive season to end,” he stated, emphasizing that each match is treated with the utmost importance as the season draws to a close.
The FA Cup represents a significant opportunity for Emery, not only to secure a prestigious title for Villa but also to win his first piece of silverware in English football. Villa has not reached the FA Cup final since 2015, and a victory over Palace would see them return to the final for the first time in nearly a decade. For Emery, this represents a chance to fulfill his ambition of winning trophies for Villa, a challenge he embraced when he first arrived at the club.
The semi-final clash against Palace presents an important moment in Emery’s career, but the manager is taking a measured approach. While acknowledging the significance of the occasion, he expressed his desire to enjoy the journey to Wembley and the atmosphere that comes with it. “As a coach, my challenge when I arrived here was to get some trophies along the way. We have an opportunity because we are in the semi-final, but there is a lot of work to do,” he said.
Reflecting on his experiences in English football, Emery noted that the most important lessons he has learned from winning trophies are the processes involved and the enjoyment of the journey itself. This mentality of focusing on the experience, rather than just the outcome, is something he wishes to instill in his players as they head into the high-stakes encounter at Wembley. “When you are getting experiences and getting trophies, the most important thing I learned and I enjoyed, was the way and not the end,” he explained.
Emery’s only previous visit to Wembley as a manager was during his time at Arsenal, where he faced Tottenham in a league match while Spurs’ new stadium was being built. This connection to the iconic stadium adds an emotional layer to his return. “I like it, and tomorrow I will enjoy it. Of course, I have a huge responsibility to try to respond in good way with the players,” he said, acknowledging the pressure but expressing excitement about the opportunity. As Villa prepares for this pivotal match, Emery remains focused on enjoying the occasion while maintaining a clear eye on the ultimate goal: ending the season with a trophy and a spot in Europe.
