Aston Villa boss Unai Emery says rising expectations are driving their title charge ahead of a crucial home clash with Manchester United.
ASTON Villa manager Unai Emery says greater expectations are fuelling his team’s Premier League title charge.
Villa host Manchester United on Sunday seeking a rare home victory against the historic rivals.
The club’s only home league win against United since 1995 was a 3-1 triumph in Emery’s first match in charge in November 2022.
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Emery has transformed Villa’s fortunes over three years, with the team now third in the table.
They sit just three points behind leaders Arsenal after a stunning run of 10 wins in 11 Premier League games.
This marks a dramatic turnaround from failing to win any of their opening five league matches while scoring just once.
“Be humble, and work like we are doing the last years, but especially the last two months,” Emery said at his pre-match press conference.
He believes the players have embraced his demanding standards following their poor start.
The Spaniard said his squad is building on last season’s sixth-place finish and run to the Champions League quarter-finals.
Villa’s current form has sparked dreams of a first league title since 1981.
“How we perform, the last year is an example and it’s an experience for us,” said Emery.
He suggested the team could have achieved even more last season with higher demands.
Emery stated he is now more motivated and demanding than when he first arrived at the club.
Improving a shocking home record against United is a key immediate objective.
“My objective has a lot of things to improve, a lot of things to work, a lot of things to set as a target, being ambitious, and the first one is on Sunday, to beat Manchester United.”
He called the historical statistic “a really crazy number for Aston Villa”.
Villa have beaten United at home only three times in the past 30 to 31 years. – AF
