- Unai Emery has labelled Aston Villa’s 2025/26 campaign as “outstanding” after their 2-1 win over Manchester City
- The result confirmed they finish the season in the top four, just four days after their Europa League win
- Emery also called it “the best season” he has had with Villa since he joined in November 2022
Unai Emery was full of pride following Aston Villa’s 2-1 victory over Manchester City, praising his players for a performance that perfectly encapsulated their relentless campaign.
Despite being a goal down at half-time, after being dominated for the majority of the game, Villa came out in the second in completely different fashion.
Ollie Watkins scored a double, completely turning the game around, to ensure his team finished in the top four. The goals took his tally to 21 for the 2025/26 campaign, with 13 of them coming since the beginning of March.
It’s been something of a rollercoaster season for Villa, who failed to win any of their first six matches in all competitions, while failing to score in their opening five.
They then went on to win eleven matches in a row in the middle part of the season before being hampered by injuries to key players. Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Youri Tielemans all sustained injuries within three weeks of each other, which shattered any hopes Villa had of making a title run.
However, the Villans managed to regain some form and peak just at the right time to lift their first piece of silverware in 30 years, and qualify for the Champions League.
Emery’s assessment
In his post-match press conference, Unai Emery was proud of the way his team turned it around after their first-half performance. He highlighted that the way they responded was the epitome of the journey they have gone on this season, and he also reflected on the “outstanding” campaign Villa achieved.
“Outstanding. The performance was outstanding, and the reaction was a summary of the season. We started poor, and then reacted. Then we struggled again. We recovered our identity, and through it we finished beating Liverpool, which was fantastic, and then against Man City.
“The first half, we didn’t shoot or have offensive corners. We were defending and we were resilient. This is an issue which the team learned during the process which we are here.
“In the second half, we had our moments. We had possession, and we were scoring, bringing the result back.
“We are here four years and this is the best season we have done here together. My objective here is to be consistent. We finished in the Champions League and then in sixth.
“Now we finished fourth, and we are being consistent. When you compete in Europe and in the Premier League, this is the most difficult challenge you can have.
“The first priority next season is the Premier League, then the Champions League, then the other cups. We broke this year to win a trophy – it was something we needed.
“Now we are going to increase our demands, trying to get more trophies and be consistent to get the top seven positions for Europe or the Champions League. This is the challenge and how we want to be demanding – the club and the supporters.
“Next year, the club will work to add 8,000 people in the stadium. Hopefully, this process will help us to be challenging, always looking forward and up.”
ReadAstonVilla verdict
This incredible comeback victory perfectly mirrors Villa’s resilient blueprint under Emery’s brilliant guidance. Overcoming a devastating wave of midfield injuries and an early-season drought, the squad proved their elite mentality by shifting gears when everything was on the line.
Securing a historic top-four finish alongside their first major trophy in three decades provides a flawless foundation for the grand ambitions ahead.
With a stadium expansion on the horizon and an uncompromising hunger for more silverware, Emery has transformed Villa into a sustainable powerhouse. The Villans are no longer just dreaming; they are firmly looking upward.
