Unai Emery has transformed Aston Villa from relegation contenders to a team that is back in European football. Credit: Getty Images/Adam Hunger
It's usually when passports are handed out that Unai Emery excels and Aston Villa's rising power is finally ready to make its mark on the European stage. manager and there is growing optimism that they could pose a real threat to a closed party of Premier League members.
We have obviously been here before and Emery's predecessor Steven Gerrard has been open about European ambitions before his the unfortunate term of office was ruthlessly terminated last October.
However, these past 10 months under Emery have taught Villa fans how to dream. When he insists that his goal is to win a trophy this season, those supporters now believe that this is much more than just an exaggeration.
Emery, European specialist
Emery's impact since his appointment last year cannot be overestimated: with 49 points from 25 matches, the only regret from Villa's pecking order is that he didn't arrive sooner.
won the Europa League four times. Photo: Getty Images/Maja Hitij
Owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens have never made a secret of their desire to bring Villa back into European football and they have one of the undisputed masters of continental competition.
Edens' vision for the sport is based on data, analytics and statistics, and Emery is working decisively in all these areas.
Indeed, this will be the 16th consecutive season that Emery has played in a European tournament . In that time he has won four Europa Leagues and it has never been a problem to cope with the demands of an overloaded list of matches.
It can only be the European Conference League, but try to tell Villa and their fans about it. They have not played in Europe since 2010, when Rapid Vienna knocked out Villa's team, including Stilian Petrov and Emil Heskey, in the play-off round. There will be high hopes that the serial trophy winner will be able to prove the difference.
Emery's methods are already legendary. He loves long meetings, where he inspires the players with his philosophy in the smallest detail. He is extremely punctual, and on the team bus returning from away games, he can often be seen cleaning his iPad in preparation for the next opponent.
He works long hours and is believed to even joke a little at practice fields in Bodymoor. While he has never really spoken about his experience at Arsenal, there is no doubt that his embarrassing departure in November 2019 motivated him to prove people wrong.
Smart recruiting on and off the pitch
Villa's transfer business also made a statement of intent. Youri Tielemans' take on the free transfer was solid enough, but the appearance of Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby caught everyone's attention.
as smart business for Aston Villa. Photo: etty Images/James Gilbert
Torres, a left centre-back, was the focus of many European heavyweights before Villa agreed to a £31.5m cut deal with Villarreal. Diaby, a record £43m signing, has been on Villa's radar for years, with sources in Germany initially expressing doubts as to whether the French striker would be interested in a move from Bayer Leverkusen.
Claims That Diaby supported the Big Six club and Champions League football testifies to the strength of Emery's conviction that the deal was done. Emery already had the core of a decent team, and the personal improvement of Tyrone Mings and Ollie Watkins was palpable.
John McGinn, the Scottish midfielder, has been outstanding since returning to his preferred position, with Emery signaling he should be offered a new contract. McGinn signed the deal last month and it is hoped that Watkins will follow shortly. If they can add another proven hitter to their team, it could make a big difference.
Another notable arrival came at the senior management level, with Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo, known as Monchi, returning to Emery as the club's President of Football Operations. His reputation in Europe is excellent despite a tough spell in Serie A with Roma and he is expected to be able to take Villa to the next level.
Monchi is also known for supporting home-grown talent, which matches the reputation of «Villa». Faith in your academy. Talented local youngsters including Cameron Archer and Jayden Philogen were given the chance to make their mark in the pre-season.
This means that expectations for the new season starting at Newcastle are incredibly high . August 12.
This will be a test for the Villa players and the challenge is to build on the momentum of last season. The draw for their European comeback will take place on Monday, and it is hoped that the city squares will be littered with maroon and blue flags in the coming months.
Unai Emery's 'Super' leadership should have no limit to what Villa can achieve.
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