Emery challenges Villa to seize Champions League chance

Unai Emery has challenged Aston Villa to seize their chance to move a step closer to the Champions League last 16 against Club Brugge on Wednesday.

Villa are on top of the Champions League table after reeling off three successive victories in their first appearance in Europe’s elite club competition for 41 years.

Another win in Belgium would fire Villa towards a top eight finish in the new league phase of the competition.

The top eight in the first phase will go straight into the last 16, avoiding the need for a play-off round in February.

“Tomorrow we have the possibility to get one step ahead in this competition, to be a contender in the top eight,” Emery told reporters on Tuesday.

“This is a really amazing objective we can achieve and can face tomorrow. But if we are not playing with the 100 per cent focus we did in other Champions League matches it is going to be difficult.

“We are aware about the possibility to get the fourth victory, 12 points and the expectation for the next round to be in the top eight.

“But there will be some surprises if we are getting there. We are a surprise, we are not contenders or favourites to be in the top eight. Maybe in the next round but not in the top eight.

“Some teams are going to be out, favourites out, but with the possibility to play the next round and then the teams finishing in the top eight.”

Villa face Brugge on the back of a dismal 4-1 defeat at Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday.

Emery’s men also lost to Crystal Palace in the League Cup last week and the Spaniard conceded his team need to show more consistency.

“We are not playing as consistently well as we need to. If we can’t do that, it will be difficult to achieve our objectives,” he said. 

“We need to be more intelligent than other teams. Tactically, mentally and even emotionally.”