Unai Emery has issued a stern warning to his Aston Villa squad, urging them to show full respect to Bologna and the Europa League as they prepare for a critical quarter-final showdown. The Italian side, currently eighth in Serie A, secured their place in this stage with a dramatic 4-3 away victory over Roma in the last 16, highlighting their competitive edge.
Emery's Experience and Caution
With a record four Europa League titles as a manager, Emery brings unparalleled expertise to the fixture. However, he stressed that Villa cannot afford to be complacent, especially after an extended international break that has left the team without a competitive match since their win over West Ham on 22 March. "To win in Europe is very, very difficult," Emery stated. "Firstly you must respect this competition. Because if you are not respecting the competition, if you are not focusing 100%, you are close to being out. And I have a lot of experiences with these situations."
Bologna's Form and Challenge
Describing Bologna as "a winner team," Emery pointed to their recent successes, including last year's Coppa Italia final. This marks the third meeting between the two clubs in European competition over the past 18 months, but it is the first to be held in Italy, adding an extra layer of difficulty for Villa. Emery anticipates a vibrant atmosphere at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, noting that "the supporters are always so important and they will create a great atmosphere here, which will be fantastic for them." He added, "For us, it's going to be very difficult. Every experience we are having in Europe, playing away, is more difficult than playing at home."
Key Match Dynamics
Emery emphasized the need for resilience, as Bologna is expected to play intensely both with and without the ball. "Tomorrow we will need to be sure of our resilience when they are trying to play intensely with the ball or without the ball to try to stop us," he said. Despite Villa's strong form, Emery refused to label his side as favourites, calling the tie "50-50" after Bologna's impressive performance against Roma.
In other Europa League action, Real Betis drew 1-1 with Braga, with Cucho Hernández converting a penalty to salvage the result. The remaining quarter-final first legs feature Nottingham Forest at Porto and Freiburg hosting Celta Vigo, all set for Thursday.
