Unai Emery: Aston Villa want both FA Cup glory and the Champions League
Unai Emery has declared “we want it all” as Villa head into Saturday’s FA Cup showdown with Crystal Palace.
The boss says he isn’t prepared to choose between ending the club’s 29-year trophy drought and qualifying for next season’s Champions League and is still targeting both.
Villa, who are in the race for a top-five Premier League finish, have not won a major trophy since lifting the League Cup in 1996, while it is 68 years since they won the FA Cup.
Asked on Friday if winning silverware would be more important than qualifying for the Champions League, Emery replied: “When you start the season you are trying to set objectives through four competitions, the Premier League, Champions League this year, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
“We are now still in two competitions, now we are focusing on each match in each competition trying to get our best, to be in Europe is one clear objective we have.
“The first way to get Europe is through the Premier League, but getting the trophy in the FA Cup. Now, we can't choose only one competition. We are choosing both competitions strongly because we have two ways for our positive season.”
Emery will be managing at Wembley for the second time, having previously taken charge of Arsenal in a Premier League fixture in 2019.
But Saturday’s match is on a different level, with Villa set to be backed by more than 30,000 travelling supporters.
While the clear objective is to win, Emery is determined to savour every moment.
Asked how it would feel managing the club at Wembley, he replied: “Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy, enjoy. I am a coach. I love my profession, my work and to smell good stadium, good pitches.
“I like it and tomorrow I will enjoy it. Of course, I have a huge responsibility to try to respond in a good way with the players.
“But really, I'm so excited playing matches like tomorrow, and the possibility we will have tomorrow in the FA Cup and something special when you are sharing it with your supporters, because I know for the support it is something special.
“Tomorrow, they are going to travel with our supporters to be with us there in Wembley. I think this is really something.”
