Unai Emery hailed the support of the Aston Villa faithful after a raucous Villa Park played their part in a sterling fightback against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League.
The home side trailed 2-0 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate after 27 minutes of the second leg before scoring three unanswered goals to give themselves hope of levelling the tie.
But despite creating a number of chances, the equalising goal eluded Villa as the club’s thrilling first campaign in Europe’s top competition since 1983 came to an end.
“We were trying to visualise this morning. With the match we played there, competing fantastic, at the end the result, 3-1, made us a little bit upset, but it was not changing a lot,” Emery said.
“We were visualising to play with a different gameplan but with the same players and trying to threaten them with the opportunities we can have to threaten their weakness and use our power with Villa Park.
“It was fantastic for us with the crowd, with the supporters and how they are transmitting us their energy, and we are feeling strong here. They are very, very important in how we responded when we were losing 2-0 because they were supporting and helping us to get the opportunity to come back the result.
“We did it and we won. We were close to scoring the goal to equalise this match, but we didn’t achieve it. We have to be proud of the work we did.
“I’m demanding in how we can get better and better in the level we faced today and the level we faced in the Champions League. Now, in the Premier League we’re going to face the same level in Newcastle.
“Newcastle and Manchester City next week, this is really fantastic because our best test is against those teams and how we are responding, and how as well the supporters are enjoying.
“I think this is the process. We are building the team, a new structure and we are increasing our demands and standards. I want to get there with all the supporters of Aston Villa, the workers, the owners, the players and the coaches.”
Having gone toe-to-toe with some of the best teams on the continent over the course of their run in the Champions League, the aim is now to ensure Villa are in the competition again next season.
Emery and his team have racked up four straight wins in the Premier League and face fellow top-five contenders Newcastle United at home on Saturday.
He said: “The idea is to try to be consistent in getting Europe.
“Last year we played in the Conference League and played a semi-final. This year we played in Champions League and played a quarter-final.
“The best competition in Europe is the Champions League and it's the most difficult to achieve.
“This is our objective and we will prepare the last six matches we are going to play in the Premier League to get it.”
