Emery focused on FA Cup progress

Unai Emery has spoken of his determination to progress in the FA Cup as Aston Villa prepare to host Stevenage on Sunday.

Villa entertain an in-form Boro side who currently sit second in League Two, having tasted defeat just once in their last 15 league matches.

The club will be bidding to progress past the third round for the first time since 2015/16 having exited at the first hurdle in each of the previous six seasons.

Villa, seven-time winners of the world’s oldest domestic cup competition, last reached the final at Wembley in 2015.

Head coach Emery admits he will rotate some of his line-up, but is keen to stress he remains focused on sealing Villa’s place in the fourth round and will do so with victory firmly in his sights against Stevenage.

Asked whether he expects to make changes, the Spaniard said: “Yes, but I want to win.

“And I am going to use players thinking how we can play - controlling the match, good positioning.

“Trying to give players experience, maybe young players, but overall in the qualities and skills how we can play like I want to create or to build in this team.

“And I want to use the players we did (against Wolves).

“We can add, I think, maybe, Jacob Ramsey, which is good. After one month without him, it’s going to be important as well to add him.”

Emery has an excellent record in cup competitions during his managerial career.

He is the most successful coach in the history of the Europa League, winning three successive titles with Sevilla between 2014 and 2016, before leading Villarreal to Europa League success in 2021 as well as the semi-finals of the Champions League last season.

Emery, who also guided Arsenal to the final of the European cup competition, celebrated two French Cups, two French League Cups and two Trophée des Champions with Paris Saint Germain.

“I like the cup competitions in Spain, in France and here in England,” he added.

“And the FA Cup is a very good opportunity to try and do something in this way.

“On Sunday we are going to prepare for the match thinking the objective is to win the FA Cup, not now (on Sunday), but if we can progress then maybe.”