Unai Emery recognized “there is still work to do” for Aston Villa, despite stimulating their Champions League ambitions with a 2-0 win over Tottenham.
Second half goals from Ezri Konsa and Boubacar Kamara lifted Emery's side to the top five of the Premier League-a point above the sixth place Manchester City, who plays Bournemouth on Tuesday.
It was a ninth victory in 11 league games for in-form Villa, whose 24 points count since the beginning of March is the most due to every side in the division.
Nevertheless, they have to beat Manchester United on the last day of the season and hope for favors from elsewhere to get a return to the Champions League, in which they reached the quarterfinals this period.
“I am very happy,” Emery told Sky Sports. “Today we ended our season here with our supporters who try to transfer our energy.
“We have won, but there is still work to be done to get the chance to play in the Champions League. We have to try to keep and focus the inconsistencies.
“Spurs competed well and did fantastic work. During the break we spoke about the difficulties we were confronted with and to be consistent and demanding in our game plan.”
Special Times with our special managerpic.twitter.com/SAQK4BTTW4
– Aston Villa (@AVFCofficial) 16 May 2025
In the meantime, Konsa spoke about the wishes of the players to participate in Europe's Premier Club competition for a second season successively.
The defender, who only scored his second Premier League goal of the season, also told how the opener came behind the scenes as a result of hard work.
“We worked at that specific angle and it came loose,” Konsa added. “We knew that we had to score early in the second half and give the fans something to cheer for.
“We knew it was a must-win today. We want to play Champions League football again. We knew that Tottenham had a final on Wednesday [against Manchester United in the Europa League]But we had to stay focused and win.
“We have tasted it this season, and for us as players it is a competition in which you want to play. It is the main goal for us to enter the last game.
“It's not yet in your hands, but we'll do everything we can.”