The second leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League Round of 16 will take place, with Aston Villa hosting Ligue 1 side Lille. Manager Unai Emery stated in a press conference that he greatly values the opportunity to lead the team in European competitions and that his ambitions will not cease.

In the first leg, Aston Villa defeated Lille 1-0 after Buendia assisted Watkins to score in the second half.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery said, "We have a lot of respect for this competition, and the same goes for Lille. Lille played against us in the Europa League three years ago, they also participated in the Champions League last season and performed very well, and this season they are competing in the Europa League. They are also performing well in Ligue 1, and after defeating Rennes away in the last round, they are in a good position in the standings."

“We won the first leg, which is certainly important, but it’s not enough. Now we’re playing at home, and with the support of our fans, we must continue with the plan we developed in the first leg. We need to make adjustments based on the situation of both sides; there may be different players on the field, or injuries. But tomorrow is very important for us. We need to approach this game with our own style, maturity, and responsibility, and in the right way.”

Emery pointed out, "We are currently in the Europa League Round of 16, which was a dream three years ago. Back then, it was almost an unimaginable goal, but we have achieved it in such a short time. The same goes for our consistent performance in the Premier League; despite losing our last three games, we are still in fourth place. That was also a huge dream three years ago."

Be prepared for any match situation

“We have very high expectations of ourselves, and sometimes those expectations can be frustrating for us and for the fans, but I prefer it that way. I’d rather be criticized sometimes for not performing well enough, because that means we have high standards and goals, and I want us to stay at those levels.”

Emery emphasized, "I hope we can stay where we are and fight for it. I cherish the path we've come and acknowledge our high standards for ourselves. Even when we don't reach our goals, it's inevitable to feel frustrated. But overall, we must be very happy. My ambitions are limitless, and being able to compete in European competitions is very valuable to me. Striving for European qualification at Aston Villa is equally important."

"The league is always the top priority, because it's the only way we can qualify for European competition. We are also well aware of how difficult it is to compete in European competitions, even for the best teams in the world or the top teams in England."

Furthermore, Emery stated, "Tomorrow will be a tough match. I predicted it would be a difficult contest, and we must be 100% focused in every aspect. Whether it's tactical or individual performance, we need to be at our best."

"We will be ready for 90 minutes, and we will also be ready for extra time or a penalty shootout if necessary."

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