Unai Emery has revealed his ambition to win the Champions League with Aston Villa as his side prepare for another major European night against Paris Saint-Germain. The Unai Emery Aston Villa project has already delivered Europa League glory and a return to Europe’s elite competition, but the Spaniard believes Villa should now aim even higher.
Villa face Champions League holders PSG in Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup after another remarkable period under Emery.
Last season’s Champions League campaign ended against the same opponents in the quarter-finals. Villa lost 5-4 on aggregate despite beating Luis Enrique’s side 3-2 at Villa Park in the second leg.
That experience appears to have strengthened Emery’s belief that Villa can eventually compete for the biggest trophy in European club football.
In an interview published by UEFA on Tuesday, Emery said:
“Winning the Champions League is something I dream of.”
UEFA notes that the interview itself was conducted on 27 July, rather than during Villa’s preparations in Salzburg this week.
Unai Emery Aston Villa ambition continues to grow
Emery pointed towards Borussia Dortmund reaching the 2024 Champions League final and his former Villarreal side reaching the semi-finals in 2022 as evidence that clubs outside Europe’s traditional superpowers can challenge deep into the competition.
His aim is now to establish Villa as a team capable of repeatedly competing with Europe’s best and challenging for major trophies.
Wednesday provides another opportunity to judge that progress.
ReadAstonVilla has already looked at how Emery can hurt PSG again, with Villa’s aggressive approach in the 2025 second leg offering a possible blueprint for the Super Cup.
Emery recalled that Villa were much more assertive at Villa Park than they had been during the first leg in Paris. He believes competing at that level against PSG was important for the squad’s confidence.
Villa have already travelled a considerable distance since Emery arrived in October 2022.
Winning the Champions League remains an enormous ambition, but the fact Villa are preparing to face the holders for European silverware illustrates why Emery now feels able to talk about it.
