Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery has expressed confidence that his team is ready to vie for major trophies as they gear up to face Bologna in their third Champions League fixture of the season.
The Birmingham-based club has emerged victorious in both of their Champions League matches so far, marking their return to European football’s top-tier competition for the first time since the 1982-83 season.
"I don't want to waste my time here, that is my message. You can't waste your time here," Emery stated during a press conference on Monday.
"My objective here is to keep the same level we have now, Champions League and add more to be contenders for titles.
"This is the message, we love football, we love our work and we want to be successful."
Villa Park is set to host its second Champions League match — the tournament was renamed from the European Cup at the start of the 1992 season — following Jhon Durán's remarkable winning goal against Bayern Munich in their previous outing.
Emery emphasized that he doesn't want his team to be just participants and reiterated his ambition for the club to qualify for the competition consistently.
"We want to achieve the objectives and one of them is to play in the Champions League. It is not about playing there only because of some circumstances -- I want to us to stay there for a long time," the Spanish coach said.
"But it is difficult. Maybe sometimes you can have some problems or struggle in our way, but you have to be resilient. We want to be strong in the idea in our mind and create a strong mentality to always break barriers.
"We can believe, working like we are doing, we can keep it. This is my challenge, this is my objective now.”
Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappé has been crowned the Best Men’s Player of the Year at the Globe Soccer Awards' Europe Edition, held in Sardinia, Italy.
The prestigious award acknowledges Mbappé’s exceptional performances for both PSG and the French national team, solidifying his reputation as one of the world's best footballers.
Over the past year, Mbappé has been instrumental in PSG’s domestic dominance, as well as France’s strong international performances, showcasing his electrifying pace, clinical finishing, and leadership on the field.
Expressing his gratitude, Mbappé stated, “Winning this award is a great honor. It’s a recognition of the hard work I’ve put in, and I want to thank my teammates, coaches, and fans for their constant support.”
The Globe Soccer Awards, which celebrate excellence in football, honor top players, coaches, and clubs worldwide.
Mbappé’s victory places him alongside previous winners like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Robert Lewandowski, further cementing his place among the sport’s elite.
PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi praised Mbappé’s impact, saying, “Kylian is a phenomenal player and a true leader. He continues to set new standards in football, and this award is well deserved.”
With speculation growing over Mbappé’s future, including potential moves to Real Madrid or the Premier League, the forward remains focused on his current success.
“I always strive to improve and achieve more. My journey is far from over, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.”
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