Villa play Freiburg on Wednesday in the UEFA Europa League final, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max. It is a chance for the club to lift a trophy for the first time in more than two decades and Emery is keen not to let the opportunity slip by for Villa.
After playing in the UEFA Champions League last season and giving a good account of themselves in making the quarter-finals, losing to eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain, Villa have a chance to secure silverware on the continent this time around.
They will go into the game without the stress of needing victory to earn European qualification for next season having already sealed a place in the Champions League.
”Europe is important as it means we are performing in the Premier League at the highest level because to be in Europe is through the league,” Emery told TNT Sports.
”Of course, achieving playing in Europe is very important and through the Premier League we are doing it. We finished the first year seventh, the second year fourth and last year sixth. Those positions, normally they are getting you to play in Europe, Champions League or Europa League, Conference League.
”And then to play in Europe like we did last year, we did a fantastic two matches and were close to beating [PSG].
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"And we were excited in the Champions League to be playing each match. This year, we are enjoying it a lot in the Europa League, we are really motivated, excited with how we are doing away with our supporters.
"When we are playing away, they come with us. When we are playing at home in Villa Park, it is always something special.”
Villa have become European regulars and Emery has praised the way his players have adopted his elite mentality to ensure they are consistently performing at the highest level.
”Always analysing deeply everything we were doing and sometimes we are winning and being so, so demanding, analysing and trying to correct some errors we can make. When we are losing as well, we are demanding, but it’s not changing our mentality and our method with the players, with the squad.
”I work every day. Of course, it’s very important sometimes to rest. When we are resting, rest. Clear rest. When we are working, we are preparing, we are getting focused [on] each match to be so, so demanding. This is the method we have.
”In the bad moment, we are being consistent and in the good moment as well, like now, we are still being consistent and we are still being demanding to try and keep it long time."
Emery has been in football management for more than 20 years and, even with a host of honours including four Europa League titles to his name, he says he must constantly adapt to stay relevant in the game.
”[The] Premier League is the most difficult league in the world. Each season, each month, each week is very important, each match is very important for us and for me. I am challenging myself, how I can keep for a long time the competitive way we [play] and the competitive way I have,” he added.
”We were speaking about our momentum that we were starting the season with five matches not winning, we were focusing on escaping the bottom. And we recovered confidence and points… When we were in December or January, more or less, we were close. Not a lot of points difference between us and Manchester City.
”We were as well dreaming [in] that moment to try to keep it. Of course, Manchester City and Arsenal were more consistent than us.
”Now, again, we are feeling better. We are feeling again [that] we can get our target.”
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”The players I think, progressively, they are more demanding of themselves. And they are achieving their own objectives as well to get, for example, [into] their national teams.
"[Ezri] Konsa, [Ollie] Watkins and Morgan [Rogers], they are more or less involved in the [England] squad, in the national team.
”And three years ago, when we arrived here, they weren't. The club is involved, and myself as well, I am trying to be involved in our improvement. So, I feel we have a lot of work to do.”
