Emery motivated for 2026/27 kick-off

FixturesBrighton and Hove Albion Vs. Aston Villa - Sun, Aug 23 2026, 14:00Unai Emery is proud of Aston Villa’s progress in recent seasons and is pushing for more as his team get set to begin the new campaign. The Spaniard has delivered four consecutive top-seven Premier League finishes, runs to the latter stages of several competitions, and an unforgettable UEFA Europa League triumph in May. Emery’s demanding nature means he is eager to maintain those levels of success as Villa head into the 2026/27 season.“We are proud of how we are doing our way, how we are progressing and how we are achieving our objective each year. Last year, was the best in our four years, winning one trophy and being fourth in the Premier League,” he said. “To share both competitions, performing as we did, is really fantastic. Keeping it is the target, trying to set our standards as in previous years. Through it, we are being very demanding. “Our motivation is coming with the achievements we have had in the last few years: finishing in the top seven and playing in Europe. Champions League has been a priority but it’s difficult to repeat that every year in the Premier League. “We are trying to be contenders for two cups we are playing, FA Cup and Carabao Cup, and Europe is very important. It’s something that’s given us very important, and for me, I am playing in Europe for 17 years in a row, winning trophies.” Emery added: “It was an amazing experience for me, for us in Premier League and for our supporters. “For this year, I am expecting something like that. How we can keep going in the level we were and the level we want to be is really our challenge and my challenge.“We are happy and we are proud of everything we are doing, but everything that is coming is going to be more difficult than the past.” Villa’s Premier League schedule begins at Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday before facing champions Arsenal at Villa Park eight days later. It represents a tough start, but Emery is working hard to ensure that his squad are reaching the high standards they have set for themselves. “Being competitive, like we were,” he replied when asked what he wants to see from Villa this season. “This is my first concern about how I want to watch Aston Villa this year, to repeat the competitive way we did. “In the demands we are making going forward, to be demanding. Then the consequences can come through it to again be competing in the highest level.”