Aston Villa boss Unai Emery makes European admission amid Conference League debut in Warsaw

Villa are back in Europe for the first time in 13 years after qualifying for the Europa Conference League.

They face Legia Warsaw in the Poland capital in their Group E opener on Thursday.

Victory will be boss Unai Emery’s 100th win in Europe, with the former Arsenal boss a three-time Europa League champion with Sevilla having also triumphed in the competition with Villarreal in 2021.

“It means a lot, Europe, I want to share it with Aston Villa fans, players, coaches. I want to write a new chapter,” he said.

“Sometimes there’s been success, sometimes not but you are always trying to use each experience to get better. Every moment, winning or losing, is a very good experience.

“Each moment is a new challenge for me. To be in Europe, with some titles I’ve won, is important for me but the football is now. The past is only to take experience, to use those experiences, to help me to do something. That’s the idea.

“It’s special to start in Europe, we have to enjoy it, we have to be demanding.

“I never think we are going to play under pressure because I like to be here. We should enjoy each moment. Legia are playing very well and we will see a very good game.

“I respect all the teams, all the coaches. Legia are playing very well.”

Jacob Ramsey (foot) and Alex Moreno (hamstring) have travelled but Emery is yet to make a decision if they will feature.

Legia boss Kosta Runjaic has insisted the hosts face a “David v Goliath” clash, with Villa one of the favourites to win the competition.

The pressure is off Legia, whose aim was to reach the group stage, but Poland international Matty Cash knows there is a spotlight on Villa as one of the favourites.

“We stay at Bodymoor, we work, we have a really experienced manager who has won in Europe,” said the defender, who qualifies for Poland via his mother and has 12 caps.

“We know our role and what we want to achieve. You are always going to get added pressure and noise outside but we want to achieve what we have set out to do.

“We have to respect there are really good clubs in this competition who are here for a reason. We want to win the group and then take it from there. We are an ambitions club.”