The 2025/26 UEFA Europa League season will enter its fifth round, with Aston Villa hosting Young Boys at Old Trafford. Unai Emery stated that his team has built confidence through fighting spirit and results, and insisted that maintaining resilience is an indispensable element for the team's continued progress.

In the last round of the Europa League, Aston Villa defeated Magabi Tel Aviv 2-0 with goals from Ian Mattson and Malen. Aston Villa are currently ranked 6th in the standings with 9 points.

In the earlier Premier League match, Aston Villa defeated Leeds United 2-1 after Morgan Rodgers scored two goals, successfully preparing for their European competition challenge with a victory.

When asked how Aston Villa regained confidence after a slump, manager Unai Emery shared, "When we played Bologna at home, we used that game as a key moment and bounced back and regained confidence through the result. It was the same with the games against Fulham and Burnley. We got good results, which boosted our confidence and made us better in terms of individual and team adjustments."

“We focus on tactics and continuous improvement in every game, which is very important because it benefits the players on the field. It helps them and allows us to build tactical structure, but the players must demonstrate their ability, fighting spirit, and desire to achieve their goals.”

Emery also pointed out, "Malen is very motivated, and he performs just as well on the pitch as he does in training. His rhythm, fighting spirit, and body language all help the team tactically, allowing us to accomplish our tasks within the established structure."

“His individual characteristics helped him score goals and provide assists, but the way he uses his speed to threaten opponents from behind is very important to us. When he gets a chance, he is very decisive.”

Furthermore, Emery stated, "Resilience is something you have to feel. When things get tough, you have to stay resilient and wait for better moments to come. We did that in the two games against Everton and Sunderland. Although the results weren't ideal, we remained resilient in difficult situations and waited for our turn. The reason we've achieved what we have is because of the players' commitment and everyone's focus."

"If we relax because we've won a few games and don't maintain the mindset that brings consistency, we won't win. If we can't maintain that consistency, we won't win games, and that's the message we want to convey."