Unai Emery emphasized that Aston Villa's recent 3-0 victory over Freiburg in the Europa League final is just the beginning of their ambitions. After securing the trophy for the fifth time, Emery insisted that the team's sights must now be set on competing among Europe’s elite.

In his post-match comments, Emery stated, “Next year we will play in Champions League and this is the challenge.” He recognized the difficulty of competing in the Premier League, describing it as the most challenging league globally, and expressed a desire to challenge top teams like Manchester City and Arsenal.

He noted the journey ahead:

• Premier League competition is fierce, with established teams in the top seven.
• Villa's goal is to consistently reach that level and ultimately secure a spot in the top four.

Emery acknowledged the importance of winning trophies as part of their developmental process, saying, “Trophies make sense of what we are doing. We are not going to stop.” He highlighted the role of set-piece coach Austin MacPhee in their success, particularly in the lead-up to Youri Tielemans' stunning goal.

Captain John McGinn praised MacPhee’s influence, noting the team's strategic approach to set pieces. Emery called MacPhee “a really fantastic creator,” emphasizing the significance of their training sessions focused on set-piece execution. With this victory, Aston Villa aims not just to compete but to thrive on the European stage.