Unai Emery, the manager of Aston Villa, has declared that the growing expectations surrounding his team are the primary fuel for their impressive surge in the English Premier League. The Spaniard made these remarks ahead of a crucial Sunday clash against Manchester United at Villa Park.
Transforming Fortunes in Birmingham
Since taking charge in November 2022, Emery has overseen a dramatic transformation at the historic club. Villa currently sit third in the Premier League table, a mere three points behind leaders Arsenal. This lofty position comes on the back of a sensational run of form, with the team securing 10 victories in their last 11 league matches.
This represents a stunning turnaround from the start of the campaign, where the Villans failed to win any of their opening five games, managing just a single goal. Emery attributes the revival to a collective shift in mentality and increased internal demands.
Building on Last Season's Success
The manager pointed to the foundation laid last season, where Villa finished sixth and reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, as a key reference point. He believes the experience has taught the squad that higher standards can yield even greater rewards.
"How we perform, the last year is an example and it's an experience for us," Emery stated. "And sometimes we were performing well, we were achieving our objective. But maybe if we were getting our demands higher, maybe even we could get something more."
Now in his third year at the helm, Emery admitted he is "more demanding even than when I arrived here," a mindset he has successfully instilled in his players following their poor start.
A Daunting Historical Record Against United
Sunday's match presents a significant historical hurdle. Aston Villa's home record against Manchester United is notoriously poor. The club's only home league victory over the Red Devils since 1995 came in Emery's very first game in charge, a 3-1 win in November 2022.
Emery highlighted this statistic as a major target for improvement. "I think in 30, 31 years, only three times at home, Aston Villa beat Manchester United. And I think this is a really crazy number for Aston Villa," he said, emphasizing his ambition to change that narrative.
With Villa's red-hot form sparking dreams of a first league title since 1981, Sunday's fixture is more than just another game. It is a test of their newfound resilience and a chance to prove their title credentials against a traditional giant, all while trying to overturn decades of home frustration.
