Aston Villa manager Unai Emery previews the Bayern Munich match (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
Unai Emery is excited for a “special, special match” as his Aston Villa side prepare to host Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday.
With Villa having kicked off their campaign with an impressive 3-0 win over Young Boys, Emery’s squad are now set to play their first home game in Europe’s elite tournament since a quarter-final loss against Juventus back in 1983.
The stage at Villa Park is set for an evocative encounter, echoing the 1982 European Cup final where Villa secured a historic victory over the German titans.
Despite his previous successes over Bayern whilst at the helm of Paris St Germain and Villarreal, Emery acknowledges his team enter as underdogs.
Looking ahead to the clash, he remarked, “We are very happy to face Bayern here at home and hopefully we can enjoy tomorrow and we can compete and show our best.
“It is a special, special match for everyone. When it’s a new competition we are motivated and so excited to play tomorrow with our supporters in Villa Park. Remembering as well the final that Villa played against them 42 years ago.”
“Now at this moment in our process we have to try to play one match more. Of course it’s against one of the best teams in the world and the favourite with three or four others to win this competition.
“We are very motivated coming back to Europe last year, with Aston Villa not playing Bayern Munich since 40 years ago. I think Europe is something very, very important and very, very difficult. This is the challenge we have now.”
Emery acknowledges Bundesliga leaders Bayern are the favourites before their clash, stating: “Tomorrow they are favourites, much bigger favourites than us. Tomorrow I want to compete against them.”
Despite Vincent Kompany’s relatively recent start in top-flight management, Emery praised his counterpart: “His career is very recognised as a player. He started two or three years ago and he worked at Man City with (Pep Guardiola) and he has been successful so quickly.
“With his experiences and working with Guardiola, everything I watch as him as a coach says he will have a very good future. Last year was difficult with Burnley, he didn’t achieve it to keep them in the Premier League but I respect him a lot.
“Bayern Munich, with the players they have for him, it’s easier to get the level they will want to have in the league and the Champions League.”
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1955946/Aston-Villa-Unai-Emery-Bayern-Munich