Unai Emery has called on Aston Villa to make the most of their Champions League opportunity by securing a crucial win over Club Brugge on Wednesday. Villa currently sits atop the Champions League table with three consecutive wins in what is their first appearance in Europe’s elite competition in 41 years.
Victory in Belgium would put Villa on course for a top-eight finish in the new league phase, a position that guarantees direct entry to the last 16, bypassing February’s play-off round.
“We are aware about the possibility to get the fourth victory, 12 points and the expectation for the next round to be in the top eight,” Emery said on Tuesday. “But there will be some surprises if we are getting there. We are a surprise, we are not contenders or favourites to be in the top eight. Maybe in the next round but not in the top eight,” he added.
Despite Villa’s strong European form, Emery acknowledged they’re still outsiders for a top-eight finish and that consistency has been lacking, highlighted by recent domestic setbacks—a 4-1 Premier League loss to Tottenham and a League Cup defeat to Crystal Palace.
Emery emphasised that Villa need to step up, saying, “We need to be more intelligent than other teams. Tactically, mentally and even emotionally.”
A win would bring Villa closer to achieving a remarkable feat in Europe, giving them a strong foundation for success in the competition’s knockout stages.