“I am not a ‘king’”: Emery says past Europa Leagues means nothing as Aston Villa target history vs Freiburg | OneFootball

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has refuted suggestions that he is the king of the Europa League and has said past success counts for nothing against SC Freiburg this evening.

Aston Villa take on the German side in Istanbul tonight, aiming to win the competition for the first time, and a first major trophy in three decades.

Emery has vast experience in this competition, as a four-time winner of the Europa League. The Spaniard won three of his record-breaking haul at Sevilla, before adding a fourth success with Villarreal. He also led Arsenal to the 2019 final, losing to Chelsea.

Ahead of tonight'sEuropa League final, Emery said his past success means nothing as he bids to write a new chapter with Aston Villa.

“Football is very difficult. To win in football, it’s fairly difficult, and to win trophies is more difficult. And being realistic, I am of course happy (with) everything we are doing," he said at hispre-match press conference.

“But, I know tomorrow is going to be very difficult, and if you are not respecting the opponent you are closer to losing.

“If you are not respecting Europe like we did during the process, we were not here. This is the strong mentality we had before, but we must show tomorrow the same mentality.

“And not thinking on the match after, how it’s going, thinking in the first minute, the second minute, the third minute, you do your task, be ready to do as better as possible, you are able to face tomorrow.

“To win a title is a consequence. That’s a consequence, because this is the process we are. And tomorrow, if we are playing in our best performance, we are going to be close to winning.

“If we are playing in a bad performance, we are not going to win. This is the only way.

“I am not a ‘king’ in this competition. I am now, again, with Aston Villa in a new chapter. Everything I did is done, and of course, it’s there in that moment.

“But with defeat, I am not winning tomorrow. I need to win tomorrow with the players we have now, with Aston Villa now, with the opponent we will face tomorrow now. It’s a new way, a new moment, and hopefully a new era.”