Unai Emery has stated that Aston Villa holds “so much respect” for Bologna as they prepare to host the Italian side in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final, even with a commanding 3-1 lead from the first match. Emery emphasized that the tie is “not done.”
The second leg is scheduled to kick off at Villa Park in Birmingham at 20:00 UK time (21:00 CEST).
Aston Villa appears to be in a strong position to advance to the Europa League semi-finals after securing a 3-1 victory away from home in the first leg. This win adds to Villa’s recent success against Bologna, having defeated them three times in the past 18 months across various European competitions.
Emery Admires Bologna’s Capabilities
“We are so, so respectful of them because they showed us their capacity to compete for this title and to go far, just as we are aiming to,” Emery told TNT Sports. “We achieved a good result there, but the tie is not over. Given how they play and perform, we have immense respect for them. I know today will be difficult, and we must continue executing our game plan as we did in their stadium. Here, with our incredible atmosphere and our supporters, we are confident but also extremely respectful.”
Aston Villa is facing several injury concerns, with Boubacar Kamara, Ross Barkley, and Alisson still unavailable. Emiliano Martinez will start despite a calf issue, and Jadon Sancho and Tyrone Mings are not at their peak fitness. Consequently, Emery has opted for the same starting eleven that faced Bologna in the first leg at the Stadio Dall’Ara last Thursday.
“We have our own European experiences,” Emery reflected. “Two years ago, we debuted in Europe in the Conference League and reached the semi-finals here against Olympiacos. We remind ourselves of that journey, how we lost the semi-final, and our experience last year in the Champions League when we were eliminated in the quarter-finals by PSG.
“Everything we learn in our process, we try to remember and be very demanding and consistent to achieve our goals. It’s a very difficult match tonight. This is the competitive environment we are building here. We are excited, motivated, and aware of how we need to manage our emotions.”
Bologna’s coach, Vincenzo Italiano, has consistently identified Aston Villa as the favorites to win the Europa League this season.
“This competition offers a chance to win a trophy and secure a place in the Champions League. It is incredibly challenging to win this tournament. Today is the moment, and we must enjoy it. I have won it three times, and I understand its difficulty,” stated Emery, a specialist in European competition.
