Aston Villa supervisor Unai Emery says his group are “very motivated” to safe direct qualification for the Champions League final 16 heading into Tuesday’s essential recreation at Monaco.
The previous European champions are enjoying within the competitors for the primary time in 42 years and are effectively positioned to complete within the high eight, sitting fifth on 13 factors with two matches remaining.
Villa face a Monaco facet additionally harbouring ambitions of avoiding the brand new knock-out play-off spherical, with the principality membership sitting on 10 factors regardless of struggling back-to-back Champions League defeats.
“I believe we’re very motivated enjoying within the Champions League as a result of the membership did not play in it for a very long time,” Emery instructed reporters on Monday.
“We wish to compete, to compete making an attempt to be a protagonist on this competitors. Now we have a really enormous alternative arriving right here to play day seven with 13 factors.
“I believe we want three or 4 extra factors to get the highest eight. Our goal is to be within the high eight and tomorrow is the important thing.”
Villa have began 2025 in fantastic kind with three successive wins in all competitions adopted by a comeback draw at Arsenal within the Premier League on Saturday.
Former Monaco midfielder Youri Tielemans kickstarted that fightback on the Emirates Stadium with Villa’s first objective.
The Belgian worldwide has began each Premier League and Champions League recreation for the membership this season after taking a while to get adjusted to life at Villa Park final time period.
“He is all the time able to play, he is all the time focusing every match and competing in his ideas one hundred pc to enhance and assist the group to observe our message,” Emery stated of Tielemans.
Monaco started the marketing campaign strongly however have light in current weeks.
Their solely victory in eight video games was in opposition to novice facet Saint-Jean within the French Cup final month.
“Now we have to indicate that we’re the identical group from two or three months in the past,” stated Monaco striker Breel Embolo.
“Tomorrow’s Champions League match is one other alternative to indicate our qualities.”
cb/jc/iwd
