Unai Emery explains why Aston Villa will remain on the rise - Champions League or not
Unai Emery reckons ambitious Villa will still be an attractive proposition for players this summer even if they miss out on Champions League qualification.
Villa are battling to get into Europe’s elite club competition for the second year running having pocketed an estimated £100million in extra revenue from this season’s run to the quarter-finals.
Returning to the big stage will give Villa, who must again be mindful of profit and sustainability constraints, greater wriggle room in the transfer market and increase chances of keeping hold of star players. Goalkeeper Emi Martinez was among those to be linked this week with a move to Saudi Arabia.
But Emery believes the club’s progress on and off the field will help convince players Villa Park is the place to be, regardless of what competitions they may or may not be playing in.
The boss pointed to the construction of sleeping quarters at Bodymoor Heath, which will allow players to stay overnight, together with the proposed expansion of Villa Park as examples of the ongoing commitment of co-owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens.
He said: “I think the pride of the owners is strong and is consistent.
“Of course, we are getting our objective in our development as a club, in everything, through playing in Europe.
"Consistency is our objective. But if we are not achieving it, we will continue preparing for the next year.
"We are building a hotel here, we are doing some work around the club here for the women's football, for the academy. I think the club is working a lot to improve Villa Park.
"We are going to try to add another 10,000 supporters more in Villa Park. I think it could be something that can help us to improve.
"The club is not stopping and the sporting objective we can achieve as well as possible, of course, is helping our process. This is our demand and this is our highest standard.”
Emery continued: "The players that want to be here with us. They are the players I want as well to manage and to work with them.
“We are improving as well in everything. Really, the players are very committed, getting a very high commitment with us to try to support and to help us."
Villa host Fulham on Saturday lunchtime targeting a win which would move them back level on points with rivals Chelsea and Nottingham Forest, who play later in the weekend, in the battle for a top-five finish.
Emery, who claims players have quickly refocused this week after losing last Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final to Crystal Palace, says he has given no thought to how many points his team might require from the final four matches to achieve their ambition.
He said: "I am not thinking about it because for me it's a waste of time.
"I don't want to waste time. I want to focus on this match and to prepare as well as possible. I am not thinking how many points we will need to get it.”
