Aston Villa are about to face Turkish giants Fenerbahce away in the seventh round of the Europa League, and manager Unai Emery showed great caution and respect at the pre-match press conference.

Facing the notoriously passionate Saracoğlu Stadium, Emery admitted that the team would face an extremely difficult test.

Emery began by praising their opponents highly. He emphasized that Fenerbahce is not only a team with a glorious history and rich experience, but also possesses a formidable home atmosphere.

“It was a very tough game,” Emery said. “They have excellent players, and the atmosphere created by their supporters here is extremely passionate. We have the utmost respect for them.”

When Unai Emery was managing Spartak Moscow, he visited the Saracogruça stadium in 2012. Recalling the experience, Emery described it as a grueling and arduous battle. Emery stated, "I remember the scene vividly."

"Although we managed to draw with our opponents and then won the subsequent home game to advance to the Champions League, the game in Istanbul was really tough, and we were under tremendous pressure on the field."

Furthermore, Emery calmly analyzed the current qualification situation. This match is a crucial battle for both sides, determining their fate in European competitions this season. Fenerbahce currently has 11 points and desperately needs a victory to improve their ranking.

For Aston Villa, while they currently hold the advantage in the race for a direct top-eight finish, Emery warned the team not to be complacent. "If we lose, Fenerbahce could overtake us or move into the top eight," Emery added.

Image source: Internet