- Unai Emery has spoken to the media ahead of Thursday’s first leg of the Europa League semi-final against Nottingham Forest
- During the press conference he provided an update on Amadou Onana’s injury, and discussed his desire to win the Europa League with Villa
Aston Villa travel to Nottingham Forest this Thursday night for a high-stakes, all-English Europa League semi-final first leg.
In what is undoubtedly the biggest fixture of their season to date, Unai Emery’s side are looking to seize the initiative. The goal? Secure a commanding result away from home to take back to Villa Park for next week’s decisive second leg.
Rarely do two of England’s most historic clubs face off in a European competition. It promises to be an electric atmosphere in what is a defining fixture for each of their respective seasons.
While these two sides are well-acquainted with the rigours of the Premier League, the stakes have never been higher on the European stage. The atmosphere at the City Ground is expected to be electric, as two historic English clubs battle for the right to represent the Midlands in a major European final.
For Villa, this represents more than just a shot at a trophy; it is the ultimate validation of the project overseen by Emery since his arrival.
Emery discusses past experiences
In his pre-match press conference, Unai Emery has laid down a marker ahead of Aston Villa’s European showdown, declaring his ambition to “write a new chapter” in the club’s storied history.
With a place in the final on the line, the Villa boss is calling on his squad to harness their collective big-game experience. Emery insists that the players must lean on their past semi-final appearances-both the triumphs and the heartbreaks to ensure they are mentally and tactically prepared for the challenges ahead.
“The most important experiences are the experiences we have here together. And our experiences are semi-final in the Conference League, quarter-final in Champions League, again, semi-final in Europa League.
“Of course, the semi-final in FA Cup last year is a little bit different, but as well, another experience we have, and we must try to learn with our experiences, to respond better than we did.
“I am focusing on our experiences. I am focusing on how we must respond tomorrow, and next week’s second leg at home.
“I must try to show the players our way with our experiences and try to respond better than we did (previously).
“Of course, I have my own experiences before, in this competition, but it’s completely different. In football, everything you were doing before, maybe it’s fantastic, maybe not, but it’s done. Now is a new chapter, and I want to write a new chapter here.”
Onana injury update
During his press conference, Emery has offered a more detailed outlook on the fitness of midfielder Amadou Onana, who was a notable absentee during the squad’s narrow 1-0 defeat against Fulham at Craven Cottage last Saturday.
Explaining the decision to leave the Belgian international out of the matchday squad, Emery revealed that Onana had been dealing with a minor knee injury that surfaced shortly before the team departed for London.
According to the Villa boss, the player complained of “a small pain” during the final preparations for the trip.
While the injury is not thought to be a long-term concern, the coaching staff opted for a cautious approach to avoid aggravating the issue.
“We will train this afternoon, and we will see how he’s responding, if he’s feeling good to play tomorrow.
“Now some players have small pains. One of them is Onana, who couldn’t play the match against Fulham. Yesterday, he was tested, and today he will be tested to see if we can get player who have some pain, ready for tomorrow.
“In case not, we must respond with the players who are ready, like Lamare Bogarde and Douglas Luiz.”
Emery’s update suggests that Onana’s omission was primarily a preventative measure, though the club continues to monitor his recovery closely as they navigate a congested fixture schedule.
In the previous match vs Fulham, Lamare Bogarde started ahead of Douglas Luiz alongside Youri Tielemans. Ross Barkley is not included in the Europa League squad, so it will be one of Bogarde or Luiz who fills in, should Onana be ruled out.
Given the Dutchman’s struggles against Fulham, Luiz could be in line to start.
Ultimately, the outcome of this first leg will hinge on Villa’s ability to combine their tactical discipline with the clinical edge they failed to show against Fulham. A positive result at the City Ground would provide them with a massive boost for the home leg.
As the hopes of writing a “new chapter” grow, Villa must prove they have truly evolved from their previous semi-final setbacks to seize the moment.
