Birmingham, United Kingdom: Unai Emery is hoping Aston Villa can summon the spirit of the club's 1982 European Cup final win over Bayern Munich when the German giants visit Birmingham in the Champions League on Wednesday. Villa's return to the top level of European football after a 41-year wait began successfully with a 3-0 win at Swiss side Young Boys two weeks ago. But Villa Park's first taste of the competition since it was re-branded as the Champions League brings back memories of the club's greatest-ever night.
Villa upset the odds to beat a mighty Bayern side, featuring club legends Paul Breitner and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, 1-0 in Rotterdam. "It is a special, special match for everyone," said Emery at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday. "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." Emery, who has won the Europa League four times in his managerial career, has inspired a phenomenal turnaround in Villa's fortunes since taking charge less than two years ago. They were battling relegation from the Premier League when the Spaniard replaced Steven Gerrard, but rose to finish seventh in Emery's first season to qualify for the Europa Conference League.
Villa reached the semi-finals in their first experience of European football for 13 years and secured a top-four finish in the Premier League, above Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham, to qualify for the C.
