Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has expressed his desire to continue winning trophies after his side secured a 3-0 victory over Freiburg in the Europa League final in Istanbul, ending a 30-year wait for silverware.
Match Highlights
After a tightly contested first half, Villa broke the deadlock four minutes before the interval through a moment of brilliance. Youri Tielemans volleyed home from Morgan Rogers' cross following a clever short corner routine. The Premier League side doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time when Emi Buendia curled a stunning strike from outside the box. Rogers then sealed the victory with a goal in the second half, ensuring Villa's first trophy since 1996.
Emery's Vision
Since taking charge in November 2022, Emery has transformed Villa from relegation battlers to European champions. The Spaniard, who now has five European titles to his name, emphasized that this triumph is just the beginning. 'My dream when I arrived here was to play in Europe and compete for trophies. This is the first one we are achieving, but we are not going to stop,' he said.
Emery also reflected on the club's history, noting that Villa last won a major European trophy in 1982. 'This makes sense with this club because after 1982, they won the European Cup. Achieving this makes us so happy and proud, but we are determined to keep improving.'
King of Europe?
Despite his success, Emery downplayed the 'king' label often associated with his Europa League pedigree. 'I am not the king of this competition; I am thankful. Without the clubs, supporters, and history, I would not be successful. We are the king together,' he said.
Underdogs Mentality
Although Villa won emphatically, Emery insisted they never considered themselves favorites. 'To win a final is very difficult. Freiburg deserved to be here after their semi-final performances. We did not think we were favorites,' he added.
