Aston Villa manager Unai Emery referenced the club's 1982 European Cup triumph and Leicester City's 2016 Premier League title as he responded to criticism from pundit Jamie Carragher ahead of the UEFA Europa League quarter‑final first leg against Bologna on April 9, 2026.
The match at the Renato Dall'Ara stadium marks Villa's return to the last eight of a major European competition. Emery's remarks come amid a public exchange with Carragher, who had questioned Villa's ambitions. The Spaniard pointed to historical precedents to underline his belief in the team's potential.
