Unai Emery 'doesn't want season to end' and warns Aston Villa against complacency before Europa League quarter-final second leg against Bologna

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Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery has called on his players to finish the job against Bologna in Thursday's Europa League quarter-final second leg, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

Why Emery doesn't want the season to finish

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Two goals from Ollie Watkins, following Ezri Konsa's opener, have put Villa in a commanding position to progress to the last four in this season's competition, where a potential all-English semi-final awaits against Nottingham Forest.

Forest must overcome Porto in their second leg, having drawn 1-1 in Portugal last week - and Emery knows there is still a lot of football to be played against Bologna before any future plans can be set in stone.

Emery told TNT Sports: "We know the tie isn't done. We respect the match and our opponents. I expect a very difficult match.

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"We are happy with how we've responded to moments all season where we've not had the confidence or not had good results. We've recovered our good mood in every moment when we haven't had momentum.

"Each match is a challenge and Europe has given us a lot. It's given me a lot in my career as a manager, whether that be the Champions League, Europa League or the Conference League.

Highlights: Watkins on fire as Villa pass Bologna test

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"We've learned how to compete in different competitions, getting to the semi-finals of the Conference League against Olympiakos and then the quarter-finals of the Champions League against PSG last year.

"Bologna is still a huge test for us and Europe is something which has always been very important for me in my career. I've had 18 years in a row playing in Europe and I'm so proud of this achievement.

"When I arrived here at Aston Villa, they were not playing in Europe. The capacity we have to develop here and being among the top positions for three years in the Premier League, we are keeping the level of what we're achieving - and I want to keep it that way for a long time.

"It's something we must be proud of and enjoy it with our supporters. I expect a huge atmosphere tomorrow at Villa Park to help us.

"The players must transmit their energy. We don't want the season to finish. I was struggling in September and we were wishing for it to end but we are recovering players and getting better. I don't want to finish the season."

Emery: We signed 'winner' Tielemans in lucky moment

The 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest last Sunday at the City Ground extended their current unbeaten run to four matches, which has coincided with the return to fitness of Youri Tielemans.

The Belgium international had been sidelined since sustaining an ankle injury away at Newcastle in January and was a key absentee, along with Boubacar Kamara and John McGinn, that contributed to a downturn in form.

Villa won just one Premier League game in his absence but Emery can now call upon the 28-year-old again, and his influence during his side's 3-1 victory in the first leg in Bologna last week was significant.

Prior to his injury back in January, Tielemans was involved in a bizarre touchline incident with Emery, which the Villa boss downplayed afterwards, telling reporters: "He's like my son."

The Spanish head coach is delighted he can count on Tielemans again heading into the pivotal stage of the campaign.

Emery added: "We signed him from Leicester as he was performing fantastically there. They got relegated, so for us it was a lucky moment to sign him.

‘What was that all about?’ – Emery pushes Tielemans in ‘strange’ incident

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"When you look at how he is performing now, he has progressively got better. In the first year, he adapted to our structure. We had to get to know him better but, in the last two years, he's been fantastic.

"He's had a few small injuries but he's very important because he's very intelligent, he understands everything we ask of him, tactically, and he's very versatile. His mentality is fantastic. He's a winner and a fantastic guy."

Tielemans: It can be a special season - we want more

For Tielemans, the prospect of achieving more silverware in his club career goes some way to making up for the times he has fallen short with his national team during Belgium's so-called Golden Generation era.

Perennial underachievers at major tournaments is not something that translated to his time at Leicester, where he scored the only goal to help his side lift the FA Cup by defeating Chelsea in 2021.

As Emery was proud to point out, this is the third year in a row that Villa have reached a European quarter-final and Tielemans carries the required experience for teams with aspirations to go deep in continental competitions.

Unai Emery and Youri Tielemans speak to the media on Wednesday

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It is 30 years since Villa last won a troph but Tielemans believes that might be about to change.

Asked if this could turn out to be a special season for Villa, he told TNT Sports: "Yes, it can be. We performed really well in the group stage and we just try to take it game by game.

"I think when we beat Bayern [Munich] at home [in the Champions League last season], that's when we realised how big we can become as a team.

"But then, staying humble and keeping both feet on the ground, we just need to do it again and again. And that's why the giants of Europe are where they are, because they do it every game. So that's a goal, but it's tough."

Tielemans: I know Emery's system 'through and through now'

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"We just try and stay positive. When you play for the prizes, the top positions in the Premier League, and then now the second leg in the quarter-finals, it feels like it's a great achievement, but we want more.

"I feel like I know the system through and through now. I know what the manager wants from me exactly and I just try to do that on the pitch. Obviously, I've got my own qualities, which I try to give to the team and to play as best as I can, to be as consistent as I possibly can as well."

When pressed on precisely what Emery instructs him to do, which is so integral to making Villa click, Tielemans puffs out his cheeks.

"It's a lot to explain," he said. "We could be here all day. He asks a lot but it's just a case of offensively trying to make the team progress forward and then defensively trying to organise the team to be as compact as we can - and play with our qualities."

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