Unai Emery explains why Aston Villa's 'dream' UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest is 'unique'

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Unai Emery is preparing to conclude Aston Villa's third semi-final under his stewardship, but the Spaniard believes that their second leg against Nottingham Forest is not like the others.

Emery insists Villa 'in a fantastic moment' ahead of crucial Forest meeting

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A place in the UEFA Europa League final is on the line, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max, as Emery chases a record-extending fifth title to add to his personal collection.

But the Villa head coach knows his side must win on Thursday if they are to get past Forest, who lead the tie 1-0 after Chris Wood's decisive penalty at the City Ground.

That their hopes of a major trophy and UEFA Champions League qualification are still alive at this stage of the season is testament to the job Emery has done, especially after Villa went winless for the first six games of the campaign.

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And in the context of Villa's standing at the start of his reign in October 2022, Emery called their current situation "a dream."

"[We're in a] fantastic moment," Emery told TNT Sports. "Because we are enjoying the process in the season, with two very ambitious objectives that we could face in the beginning [of the season], and we are achieving it.

"To play the semi-final against Nottingham in the Europa League and to be fighting for top five in the Premier League - it was a dream when I arrived here three and a half years ago.

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"And at the beginning of the season, how we started poorly in the first month, of course I was worried.

"Now I can feel proud at how we responded, the players, the club as well, and how, through our hard work, we are deserving to be here, deserving to play the semi-final and deserving to fight for the top positions in the league."

Villa currently sit fifth in the Premier League table, six points clear of nearest challengers Bournemouth with three games left to play.

Qualification for next season's Champions League is almost secured, then, but Emery is particularly keen to pick up his first major trophy at the club, having already played in two semi-finals.

On both occasions, Villa were defeated by the eventual winners: Olympiacos in the 2023/24 UEFA Conference League, and Crystal Palace in the 2024/25 Emirates FA Cup.

The 54-year-old reckons that their second leg against Forest will have a "unique" atmosphere, though.

"Usually the supporters in Villa Park create a great atmosphere. Often we feel it strongly. Tomorrow, I think, will be the same," said Emery.

"We have some experiences before, playing matches, special matches, like tomorrow, because it is the first match since I am here that we are going to play a different match and a unique match.

"Because we played a semi-final two years ago in the Conference League, but we played the first leg at home and the second leg away.

"Last year we played in the quarter-finals against PSG in the Champions League, and we played the first leg away and the second at home, but it was a quarter-final and now it's the semi-final.

"And it's the only semi-final we've played in Europe because, as well, the last semi-final we played was in the FA Cup last year but it was different, because it was one match and in London.

"I think this one is the unique match since I am here that we're going to play, and it's so, so special and of course tomorrow we will need our energy, our gameplan, our confidence, everything.

"But we will need the supporters tomorrow. We will need a special day at Villa Park."

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Another Villa man who is confident they can reach their first major UEFA final since winning the European Cup in 1982 is Ezri Konsa.

The England defender insisted it was key for the whole squad to "manifest" their own destiny.

"Manifestation, I like to manifest. I think if you do that, and I think that's the only way, you can really achieve stuff," said Konsa.

"If you believe in your head that you're going to win the game, or if you put it in your head that you'll be in the final... I know sometimes it's not always good to be overconfident, but I think, for me, manifestation is a big thing.

"And I'm sure most of the boys believe. Like I said, if we know we can, if we play to our qualities and to what we know we can do best, I'm sure we'll be alright."

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