Unai Emery returned to Basel’s St Jakob-Park on Wednesday, aiming to forge a new chapter with Aston Villa while reminiscing about his previous successes. This locale is significant for Emery, as it was where he celebrated his third Europa League title with Sevilla in 2016 after defeating Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 3-1. Reflecting on that triumph, he stated, “This competition is so, so special for me. We won here, it was a fantastic day and is a fantastic memory.”
Emery is keen to establish a strong legacy at Aston Villa, emphasizing his ambition to create “a new moment, a new era, a new way.” His history as a successful manager in European competitions, including a fourth Europa League victory with Villarreal in 2021, positions Villa as one of the frontrunners for the title this season. Following a dramatic stoppage-time victory against Arsenal, Villa has now won seven consecutive matches, making them the form team in the Premier League.
A win against Basel would secure 15 points for Villa, ensuring automatic qualification for the round of 16 in this season’s inaugural league-phase format. This outcome would alleviate the potential for fixture congestion in February, which could see them facing eight games in 28 days after the busy festive period. According to UEFA regulations, finishing in the top two would also guarantee home return legs in the quarter-finals and semi-finals if they progress further. Emery stated, “As a priority, we can fight to be in the top eight. It would be a small advantage to play the second leg at home. It’s another target.”
Aston Villa’s recent form includes 13 wins in their last 15 matches, with their only losses occurring against Liverpool and Go Ahead Eagles in the Netherlands earlier this season. Despite their current momentum, Emery is cautious about Basel, who are also at risk of elimination. The Swiss side has won their last seven home matches in the Europa League, including both matches this season. As Emery noted, “We are analysing not only when we are being successful and playing fantastic. We lost the last match we played away in Europe and I want us to remind ourselves.”
The manager faces a decision on whether to rotate his squad, especially with a crucial match against West Ham approaching on Sunday. Defender Matty Cash remarked that it is premature to consider Villa as title contenders, saying, “We’ve got to have a bit of Christmas dinner before we think about that.”
In addition to their current campaign, Villa is pursuing a €12 million (£10.5 million) deal for 19-year-old winger Alysson from Grêmio, indicating their intentions to strengthen the squad further. The team’s resurgence began with a draw at Sunderland on September 21, when they secured their first league goal of the season. Midfielder Youri Tielemans highlighted the collective effort to improve, stating, “It was down to us players to make it click. Since that day [at Sunderland] we have gone up a level, our standards have stayed really high.”
While Villa prepares for their match in Basel, Harvey Elliott was not included in the squad that traveled from Birmingham. Emery acknowledged that the club is seeking a “solution” for the 22-year-old, who has not played since a late cameo against Feyenoord on October 2. Villa had agreed to an obligation to buy clause with Liverpool, where they would owe £35 million if Elliott reached 10 appearances. However, his current situation limits his ability to play for another club within UEFA’s jurisdiction this season.
Emery expressed his respect for Elliott, saying, “He is training very well, but we have circumstances with him and hopefully we can find a solution for him as well, to play consistently or to try to continue in his career – with us, together, or not.” As Villa looks to build on their momentum, the upcoming match against Basel could be a crucial step in establishing a new era under Emery’s leadership.
