Unai Emery has urged his Aston Villa squad to secure their first top-flight European victory since 1983 as a tribute to Gary Shaw, who was a pivotal figure in the club’s 1982 European Cup triumph.
Shaw, who passed away on Monday at the age of 63, was instrumental in Villa’s European Cup win over four decades ago.
Tonight, Aston Villa will face Young Boys in their first major European fixture since 1983.
Emery reflected on Shaw’s legacy, stating, “We always have a reminder at our training ground with a picture from 1982 and the European Cup. He was a key part of that team. It’s a sad moment, but we can use it as motivation.”
Villa’s journey to the Champions League follows a successful season in the Uefa Conference League, where they reached the semi-finals, and a top-four finish in the Premier League.
This year’s Champions League has a new format, with teams like Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Aston Villa playing across eight matchdays, with some matches at home and others away.
Emery mentioned their preparation for Young Boys’ synthetic pitch, saying, “We’ve adjusted our usual approach for European matches. Instead of training in Birmingham and then traveling, we practiced here to adapt to the synthetic surface. We’re prepared and won’t let the pitch be an excuse. We aim to maintain the same confidence as at home.”
Research from TNT Sports suggests British pubs are expected to sell 200 million pints during the European football season, with a potential sales boost of £10 million from the increased matchdays.
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Unai Emery has urged his Aston Villa squad to secure their first top-flight European victory since 1983 as a tribute to Gary Shaw, who was a pivotal figure in the club’s 1982 European Cup triumph.
Shaw, who passed away on Monday at the age of 63, was instrumental in Villa’s European Cup win over four decades ago.
Tonight, Aston Villa will face Young Boys in their first major European fixture since 1983.
Emery reflected on Shaw’s legacy, stating, “We always have a reminder at our training ground with a picture from 1982 and the European Cup. He was a key part of that team. It’s a sad moment, but we can use it as motivation.”
Villa’s journey to the Champions League follows a successful season in the Uefa Conference League, where they reached the semi-finals, and a top-four finish in the Premier League.
This year’s Champions League has a new format, with teams like Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Aston Villa playing across eight matchdays, with some matches at home and others away.
Emery mentioned their preparation for Young Boys’ synthetic pitch, saying, “We’ve adjusted our usual approach for European matches. Instead of training in Birmingham and then traveling, we practiced here to adapt to the synthetic surface. We’re prepared and won’t let the pitch be an excuse. We aim to maintain the same confidence as at home.”
Research from TNT Sports suggests British pubs are expected to sell 200 million pints during the European football season, with a potential sales boost of £10 million from the increased matchdays.