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.”
Football icon Cristiano Ronaldo received a remarkable tribute in New York City’s Times Square, where a 12-foot bronze statue was unveiled in celebration of his 40th birthday.
The sculpture, designed by renowned artist Sergio Furnari, was revealed to a crowd of fans waving Portuguese flags and chanting Ronaldo’s signature "Siu" celebration.
The statue, adorned in green, red, and gold, symbolises Ronaldo’s immense impact on football and his lasting global legacy.
Speaking about the tribute, Furnari said, “Cristiano Ronaldo represents perseverance, excellence, and the unbreakable spirit of a champion. This statue is a tribute to everything he has achieved in his extraordinary career.”
Ronaldo, currently playing for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, remains one of the most recognisable figures in world football.
The unveiling of his statue in one of the most famous locations in the world underscores his influence beyond the sport, solidifying his status as a global cultural icon.
Fans in attendance expressed their admiration, with one stating, “Ronaldo is more than a footballer—he is an inspiration to millions around the world. Seeing him honored in Times Square is truly special.”
As he continues his career, Ronaldo’s legacy remains firmly intact, with his achievements celebrated on and off the pitch.
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