'I have my dreams' - Unai Emery explains his Champions League ambition with Aston Villa

Emery will meet with chairman Nassef Sawiris to finalise the terms of a contract extension, following what he described as “very positive” talks with the chairman earlier this week.

The Spaniard, already on a deal worth around £15million-a-year, had been linked with Sunday’s Premier League opponents Manchester United in recent weeks but is preparing to commit his future to Villa.

Emery, who has spent more than 20 years in management, has previously outlined winning the Champions League as his ultimate career goal.

And though Villa might not be ranked among the favourites for the competition, Emery does not believe winning it with them is impossible.

“Aston Villa won (the European Cup in 1982, they were favourites in that moment, I think not,” he said.

“Leicester won the Premier League 10 years ago. In football, everything can happen.

“Of course the favourite teams, they are (competing for) the Premier League and Champions League.

“With Villarreal we played in the semi-final four years ago. We were close.

“Borussia Dortmund played three years ago in the final. They are teams not favourites but sometimes they are having their opportunity to fight for this title.

“Of course it is very difficult to win the Premier League, very difficult to win the Champions League.

“I have my dreams, thinking in objectives like that. In all my moments working in all the clubs I was setting my demand high and my objectives high, sometimes achieving and sometimes not.”

Emery has transformed Villa into a club almost unrecognisable from the one of which he took charge four years ago.

Under his guidance, Villa have qualified for Europe in four consecutive campaigns, playing two campaigns in the Champions League, while also winning last season’s Europa League to end a 30-year trophy drought.

All of that is despite the club being squeezed by the Premier League and Uefa’s financial regulations, which has restricted the spending power of their billionaire owners.

Emery is confident Villa are heading in the right direction off the field, pointing to the redevelopment of the North Stand as evidence of the ownership’s ambition and commitment.

When completed by the start of next season, it will take the capacity of Villa Park beyond 50,000.

Emery’s key executives, Damian Vidagany and president of football operations Roberto Olabe, are also expected to extend their deals with the club.

“The conversation and the meeting we had with Damian, Roberto and Nassef was very, very positive,” said Emery.

“How the club is moving on is clear, how we are improving and increasing our budget, increasing our revenue is clear.

“To keep consistency is the challenge for Nassef, for the club with Wes Edens, with Michael (Angelakis) and for us as well here in Boydmoor.

“The step forward we are doing is with the works in Villa Park with the new stand.”