Unai Emery challenges Aston Villa players to embrace pressure ahead of Europa League final
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has challenged his players to embrace the pressure and deliver their best performance when they face SC Freiburg in the UEFA Europa League final on Wednesday night, May 20, 2026, in Istanbul.
Speaking at Beşiktaş Park ahead of the highly anticipated clash, Emery reflected on Villa’s remarkable European journey over the past three seasons and stressed the importance of experience, discipline and emotional control as the club aims to win its first major trophy in more than three decades.
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The Spanish tactician highlighted how Villa have steadily grown on the continental stage, beginning with a Conference League semi-final appearance three years ago, followed by a Champions League quarter-final run last season, before now reaching the Europa League final.
Emery’s reflections
“The most important experiences we can have individually, of course, is something fantastic, but we are speaking about our experience here with Aston Villa,” Emery said.
He explained that the club’s European campaign has been built step by step through difficult matches and different stages of competition, adding that the final represents “a new chapter forward” for the team.
Emery also insisted that Villa must remain respectful of Freiburg despite entering the final with growing confidence.
“We are confident, but we are so, so respectful,” he stated. “Freiburg, they are here because they deserve it.”
The Villa boss described the team’s rise as part of a long-term process focused on improving both tactically and mentally. According to Emery, learning how to handle pressure has been one of the biggest lessons for his squad this season.
“But we must try to understand the pressure, like something positive, not negative,” he said.
He added that the only way for Villa to play with confidence in such a major occasion is by maintaining full concentration and intensity throughout the match.
Reflecting on the campaign as a whole, Emery admitted he had concerns at the beginning of the season after a poor start, but praised his players for showing maturity during difficult periods.
“We started so, so poor at the beginning of the season for different reasons,” he revealed.
Villa’s proffesionalism
However, the former Sevilla and Villarreal coach credited the squad’s professionalism and togetherness for turning things around, with Villa now competing strongly in the Premier League while also reaching a European final.
“I was worried at the beginning of the season, really worried,” Emery admitted. “But obviously, we did it together.”
Despite his strong record in European competitions, Emery dismissed suggestions that his past successes guarantee victory in Istanbul. Instead, he emphasized that every final must be approached with humility and focus.
“I am not a ‘king’ in this competition,” he said. “I need to win tomorrow with the players we have now, with Aston Villa now.”
The experienced coach stressed that winning trophies is never easy and warned his players against underestimating either the challenge or the occasion.
“To win a title is a consequence,” Emery explained. “If we are playing in our best performance, we are going to be close to winning.”
As Villa prepare for one of the biggest nights in the club’s modern history, Emery believes the final is another important step in building a new era at the club.
“And tomorrow, we have a huge challenge,” he concluded. “How we are responding, as a team, we are building.”
