- Unai Emery is desperate to share European glory with the Aston Villa supporters
- In an interview with Villa TV, Emery labelled them at the “heart” of the team
- A win on Wednesday night would end the club’s 30-year wait for a trophy
As Aston Villa prepare to face German side SC Freiburg in Wednesday’s Europa League final at Beşiktaş Park, Unai Emery has issued a tribute to the club’s supporters, labelling them the “heart” of the team.
After securing a top-five finish on Friday, confirming their place in the Champions League next season, Villa heads into the match with some weight off their shoulders. They can now pour every ounce of their focus into lifting their first major trophy since the 1996 League Cup.
For the Villans, this showpiece event in Istanbul marks their first European final in 44 years, dating back to their historic 1982 European Cup triumph. Speaking to Villa TV ahead of Wednesday’s clash, Emery emphasised the journey through Europe has been a shared experience.
“Special competition, to share with our supporters. They were following us in all the countries we were playing, and of course, gave us a lot of energy when we were in the process in Europa League.”
A long-awaited return to a European final
The Spaniard, who has won the competition a record four times, knows exactly what is required to lift silverware on the continent. Yet, his focus remained firmly on the emotional weight this fixture carries for a fanbase that has waited decades to return to the grandest stage.
“And now, playing the final is something so, so special. After a long time not playing one final in Europe, it’s really something fantastic. The supporters will be with us in Istanbul, will travel with us there and enjoy one match for a trophy.
“They are being excited as well, how we are again, getting emotions through Europe, and the final is something (that) can make us so, so happy on Wednesday in case we are winning this trophy.”
The heartbeat of the club
With over 10,000 Villa supporters snapping up the club’s official ticket allocation and the hundreds more travelling to Turkey ticketless, the atmosphere in Istanbul will be electric. Emery, as he always does, gave his appreciation for the supporters, who have backed his team every step of the way.
“Thankful (for) the supporters. They will be there with us, and a lot of supporters, they can’t be there with us, but they are going to follow us, and it’s a special day, and very important day for them, because it’s the heart of us.
“The heart of every supporter, every fan of Aston Villa, and being with us in Istanbul, or being here in Birmingham, or being in all the world, supporting Aston Villa is something we must, everybody, feel proud of our work and of our heart following Aston Villa.”
Chasing European glory
For the 54-year-old, elite football is defined by these exact moments of high-stakes pressure and historical legacy. Having already secured Champions League qualification through the Premier League, adding a European trophy would cement this group of players as modern-day legends.
“We are here in football for trophies, for prestige, and I think Europe is giving us it, and we must share with our supporters, with all the Villa supporters and fans, we must try to share everything we are now living in the moment we are. And of course, especially on Wednesday in Istanbul.”
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Ultimately, Wednesday’s final represents far more than 90 minutes of football; it is the culmination of a shared dream between a manager, his players, and a global fanbase. Emery’s transformation of the club has not only improved the playing level on the pitch, but he has also reignited the pride of the Villa faithful worldwide.
Whether shouting from the stands of Beşiktaş Park or watching anxiously from living rooms around the world, every supporter forms an unbreakable chain of energy fueling this historic quest.
Furthermore, lifting the Europa League on Wednesday would provide the ultimate validation of their collective journey, bridging the legacy of 1982 with a bright new modern era.
As kick-off draws nearer, the Villans will be hoping to reclaim their European prestige and crown their heartbeat with continental glory.
