Vicente Iborra credits Unai Emery with considering every possible match detail and with teaching a lasting lesson about wanting and longing for finals. Emery has won the Europa League four times, including three consecutive triumphs with Sevilla and a later victory with Villarreal, and he has reached the final six times overall. Aston Villa aim to win a record-extending fifth Europa League title against Freiburg, seeking their first silverware under Emery. Pau Torres emphasizes that winning trophies matters for fans, while consistent European participation supports financial rules and club prestige. Torres also stresses enjoying the games and the experience of traveling to Istanbul to celebrate together.
"“He is a coach that takes into consideration every detail which might happen in the match,” said Iborra, then of Olympiakos. Iborra has winner's medals from all four of Emery's Europa League triumphs, three on the spin with Sevilla, the last with Villarreal five years ago, before which the injured midfielder delivered a stirring dressing-room speech. “You have the chance to make a lot of people happy,” he said, by way of opening gambit."
"“I have learned many things from Mr Emery, but one thing I will never forget from him is that, in order to find yourself in a final, in order to experience this great moment in your lifetime, one truly has to want that, one has to long for it.” Pau Torres was part of the Villarreal side that prevailed on penalties against Manchester United in 2021 and is in line to start for Villa on Wednesday. Emery has shared with his players the value of victory and his appetite for No 5."
"“For us to win a trophy is important,” Torres says. “For the club to be in Europe every year is important for the financial rules, for the prestige of the club, but at the end if you don't win a trophy for the fans, it's like: OK, you did some really, really good seasons, but we wanted more.” I think for the fans these are the most important things: to enjoy these games, these moments, and for those who can go, the trip to Istanbul."
Read at www.theguardian.com
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