Unai Emery has moved to temper expectations surrounding Aston Villa's Europa League campaign, insisting that failing to win the trophy would not constitute a failure, despite the club being pre-tournament favourites.
Emery's Reality Check
The Premier League side, who are on the verge of securing a return to the Champions League, had set their sights on European silverware. However, they face an uphill battle after losing the first leg of their semi-final 1-0 to fellow English side Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
Emery boasts an impressive record in the Europa League, having clinched the title four times — three with Sevilla and once with Villarreal. He also led Arsenal to the final. But before he can dream of a fifth triumph, Villa must overturn the deficit against Forest.
The winner of this tie will face either Braga or Freiburg in the final. Villa finished second in the group phase, winning seven of their eight matches, and have long been considered strong contenders to go all the way.
Forest, meanwhile, are battling relegation and sit 16 points adrift of Villa in the Premier League. Defeating the Midlands outfit would be a significant upset, but Emery is adamant that Villa will not view elimination as a defeat.
He said: "To achieve the semi-final is a huge achievement. Winning a trophy is very difficult. Very, very, very difficult. It's not a defeat if we are not achieving a trophy."
The Spaniard added: "We will have after tomorrow our way to set more challenges for the present or future. I don't think tomorrow is the last opportunity for us or for anyone. The players, of course, they are enjoying the process we are doing. They are aware about the difficulties of football, but how the greatest moment we are having here in Aston Villa the last three years and we can smile and be proud of everything.
"But of course we are still so, so demanding, so, so consistent with everything we are doing. It's not going to break anything in our thinking, our process, how things are improving."
Forest Favourites?
Emery has even gone as far as to suggest that Forest, who beat Chelsea on Monday, are favourites despite the second leg being at Villa Park. Villa's preparation was far from ideal as they suffered a defeat to Tottenham.
Chris Wood's goal proved decisive in the first leg, and Villa will need to produce a strong performance to keep their European dream alive.
