Unai Emery discusses ambition and 'reality' as Aston Villa look to build on Europa League success

Unai Emery has outlined his desire to bring more glory to Villa but stressed they must still be classed as underdogs when battling with the Premier League’s elite.

Villa will sign-off their greatest season in recent history at Manchester City on Sunday, with Emery eager to keep pushing on after a campaign which has delivered a top-five finish and a first trophy for 30 years.

The Spaniard believes a top-six place is now the standard after three successive years finishing in those positions.

But he warned the club still has plenty of work to do when it comes to closing the gap on rivals who have greater spending power due to their larger revenues.

“To do more of course is my ambition and my dream,” said Emery. “But I know it is very difficult. This is a huge challenge and I am trying to get myself here this ambitious challenge.

“If the club and the players are following us, the supporters are following us but understanding the reality and the real position we are in, then it is a strong argument to be proud and continue in this development.”

Villa are stepping up plans for their summer transfer window with Emery keen to avoid a repeat of last year’s difficulties, which impacted the start of this season when his team failed to win any of their first six matches.

“It is very difficult to win a trophy, to be in Europe and compete in the Premier League with the teams we are competing against,” he continued.

“Those seven teams are contender more than us this year and for the next year because their budget is more than us and they can spend more money.

“This is the first reality. But of course, we have our capacity to improve and to compete, reducing the distance. (This season) we did it.”

Reflecting on the club’s remarkable rise under his management, Emery said: “It is something very difficult, how we achieved it and how we settled at the beginning the project, with the owners, the players and the club.

“But the club is doing a huge effort to try and be consistent in this way.

“Consistency now is the most important word I have in my mind. Consistency in everything, to keep the level we are.”