Unai Emery believes he can achieve his ultimate managerial dream with Villa

Unai Emery believes he can win the Champions League at Aston Villa.

Ahead of signing a new contract with Villa next week, following talks with chairman Nassef Sawiris, Emery reaffirmed his commitment to the club’s continued development during Friday’s press conference.

Over the last four years, Emery has led Villa into European competition on four occasions, including twice in the Champions League. He also ended the club’s 30-year wait for a trophy back in May, as his side won the Europa League in Istanbul.

On Wednesday night, a day after Villa’s 3-0 defeat to Barcelona, the club confirmed that Sawiris, Emery, Damian Vidagany and Roberto Olabe would work together to map out the club’s long-term direction. Crucially, the discussions included “establishing a clear commitment beyond 2029” – the year Emery’s current contract is due to expire.

Pundits such as Jamie Carragher have suggested that Emery may need to leave Villa to realise his dream of winning the Champions League. However, the Spaniard disagrees.

“Aston Villa won in 1982. They were favourites at that moment? I think not,” Emery started. “Leicester won the league 10 years ago. In football, everything can happen. Of course, the favourite teams, they are (competing for) the Premier League and Champions League.

“With Villarreal, we played in the semi-final four years ago. We were close. Borussia Dortmund played three years ago in the final. They are teams not favourites, but sometimes they are having their opportunity to fight for this title.

“In the Premier League, it is more difficult. We finished two times fourth in the league and in those times we were in December two or three points behind Manchester City and Arsenal. To keep the consistency in 38 matches is the difficult way. But we are working, trying to get our best.

“Of course, it is very difficult to win the Premier League, very difficult to win the Champions League. I have my dreams, thinking in objectives like that. In all my moments working in all the clubs, I was setting my demand high and my objectives high, sometimes achieving and sometimes not.

“Last year, we achieved the Europa League, which is the second competition in Europe. Still being positive how we can continue improving, how we can even not being contender in the Premier League or Champions League, we have to compete and we have to try to get our best. Over the time, we will see how we can achieve our objectives.”