Unai Emery is proud of Aston Villa’s achievement after securing European football for a third consecutive season but has urged his players to keep going in their pursuit of a top-five finish in the Premier League.
A battling 1-0 victory against Bournemouth on the south coast meant Villa can finish no lower than seventh in the top flight.
But with two games left to play, Emery’s squad can still climb further up the table and have a Champions League place in their sights.
“It’s very good. I’m very happy and proud but we can’t stop now,” he said.
“We have to keep going. We got Europe last week against Fulham at home and today against Bournemouth, teams that are competing very well and performing very well. They were fighting with us as their opponent.
“They were an opponent for us to get Europe. Now we’re in the run in with the teams fighting for Champions League after the way we did last week and the win we did today.
“We’re deserving to play the next match against Tottenham having the possibilities to be there, taking even more in Europa League or Champions League.”
Success at the Vitality Stadium came on the back of a resilient defensive performance that blunted the Cherries’ attack.
The only goal of the game was a special one for Ollie Watkins, who became the club’s top Premier League goalscorer.
Fans, staff and teammates were delighted for Villa’s No.11, and Emery was effusive in his praise of the England international.
He said: “It’s fantastic and he deserves everything he is achieving.
“He’s always working for the team, working to help in everything: tactically, defensively and offensively, and he’s also scoring goals like he did today.
“It’s fantastic for him as a man – he’s a very good person. He’s humble, he’s a hard worker and his commitment with Aston Villa is massive.
“Everything we are doing, we are trying to be ambitious, and he’s always following us strongly in how we want to collectively achieve objectives and, individually, how he can progress and help us.”
