Unai Emery marks four years at Aston Villa this week, and his side face Barcelona in the Champions League at the Nou Camp on Tuesday night. Villa arrive having won the Europa League in May, ending a 30-year trophy drought.
Emery walked into Villa Park four years ago with two clear aims. “My dream is to win a trophy with Aston Villa. It’s my challenge,” he said at his unveiling in November 2022.
He added: “My second dream and my objective could be to play with Aston Villa in Europe. But now, we have to start thinking only the next match because we are not in good position in the table now.”
Emery has already achieved both goals, which has fuelled speculation about his next step, whether at Villa or elsewhere.
Villa see themselves as an elite club
Villa reacted angrily when Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said Emery would want to manage an elite club, with Manchester United admirers. The club even threatened legal action.
Villa, however, now see themselves as a club ready to join the elite. They have challenged the top sides in the Premier League and Europe over the past two years, and Emery leads that push.
Carragher’s suggestion that the Spaniard would be open to leaving was naive, given how much control Emery holds at the club and the success he has delivered. He signed his most recent contract in May 2024, which runs to 2029, so Villa are protected. A new deal is expected following the Europa League triumph.
Villa still have ground to make up. They have climbed the pecking order but have not reached the top, though the signing of Johan Manzambi from Freiburg showed they remain well placed. Villa still lost players to traditionally bigger clubs over the summer, including Emi Martinez, Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne. Ollie Watkins also left for Saudi Arabia. Those changes, however, have given Emery fresh energy.
Barcelona as the benchmark
Emery turns 55 on Tuesday, and he will face Barca back in his home country. The night gives him a chance to test his team and show the progress Villa have made.
“We are constantly seeking new challenges and we want to respond in games against Barcelona to see how far we are from them,” he said.
He recalled Villa’s history in the competition. “We won it [the European Cup] in 1982 and right now we are enjoying reminiscing with our fans, playing in this competition again, and trying to repeat that success.”
Emery also pointed to the standings. “Barca are favourites because of the present and what they have done over the last 10 years, but they need to confirm their favourite role,” he said. “The way this league stage goes, to end up finishing it in the first eight we need to avoid any kind of surprise.”
He summed up Villa’s position: “Barcelona have six points, we have nine. We need to find out our personality and make the most of our qualities.”
A demanding methods and a clear plan
Emery received carte blanche to change Villa when he replaced Steven Gerrard. He has transformed them from Premier League strugglers into Europa League winners and Champions League challengers.
His methods are intense. Players can sit through several long meetings each week and may take months to adapt to his demands. Internally, the club accepts this approach explains why Aaron Wan-Bissaka has struggled this season, having not received the same level of coaching at West Ham.
The demands also took a toll elsewhere. Former president of football operations Monchi left last year, with Emery’s close confidante needing a break. Still, that meticulousness is what makes Emery and his teams so effective.
Barcelona sources reportedly fear Villa and Emery. They point to the struggles of Alejandro Balde and to Joao Cancelo‘s lack of defensive instinct, and they warn that Villa could exploit those weaknesses given Emery’s capacity to plan and pounce on an opponent’s flaws.
Respect from across Europe
Emery has won admirers, including Barcelona boss Hansi Flick. Emery has already won the Europa League three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal.
“He is one of the best coaches in Europe and the world. He is very successful,” Flick said. “In the way his team plays, you can see a clear structure, and in offence they have different patterns. For me, it is amazing to see his team.”
Flick also praised the Villa side. “The start was not easy, but they came back. You can see the confidence they have on the ball, how they play out, and Jackson is at an unbelievable level. For us, it will be a tough game against a good team and, as well, a great coach.”
Barca winger Anthony Gordon called Emery “one of the best in the world” before the game. Yet Emery’s record at the Nou Camp is poor. He has lost 14 of his 15 games there and has beaten Barcelona only three times in 30 attempts. His last Champions League game at the stadium ended in Paris St-Germain’s collapse, as they lost 6-1 in the last 16 after winning the first leg 4-0.
Emery is eager to change that record. “Everything happened in that match, we know,” he said. No English team has won at the Nou Camp since Liverpool in 2007.
“I started in 2004, playing in Europe 16 years in a row, different competitions, I have learned in all the competitions. In that match I learned so much. The necessity of VAR for football in that moment.
“In my experiences they [his games at the Nou Camp] were giving me a lot of info to learn and get better.
“With the players we are speaking about our experiences together, we have our experience in Europe, in the Champions League two years ago.
“We are facing one of the favourite teams to win the competition, it is a huge challenge. We are confident how we are building the team, how we are facing teams like Barcelona.
“We are here progressing, understanding, setting our demands and competing the level we are, this is the challenge we have.”