dailyloe.com – Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has warned his team to respect both Bologna and the Europa League competition ahead of their quarter-final first leg on Thursday. The Italian side, currently eighth in Serie A, advanced by defeating Roma in the last 16. This marks the third meeting between the two clubs in 18 months.
Emery described Bologna as a ‘winner team’ that has been playing fantastic football in recent years. He emphasized that winning in Europe is very difficult and requires 100% focus. The manager stated Villa cannot consider themselves favorites for this tie.
Unai Emery has won the Europa League a record four times as a manager. He draws on this experience to prepare his squad following an extended international break. Villa’s last competitive match was on March 22.
Bologna qualified for this round with a dramatic 4-3 away victory against AS Roma. This first leg will be the first of the teams’ recent meetings played in Italy. Emery anticipates a lively and challenging match for his side.
The manager framed this quarter-final as a huge challenge for Aston Villa. He believes the tie is evenly balanced at 50-50 following Bologna’s result against Roma. Emery’s primary focus is ensuring his players are fully prepared and respectful of the opponent.[]
Source: The Guardian
