Unai Emery said his Aston Villa team will try to “get our best dreams” and qualify for a second successive in the Champions League after picking up an important three points against Bournemouth on Saturday.
Ollie Watkins scored his 75th top flight goal with the deftest of touches deep into first-half stoppage time to secure victory for Emery’s side and move above Gabriel Agbonlahor as Villa’s record goalscorer in the Premier League.
Jacob Ramsey was dismissed with 10 minutes remaining to make it a nervy last period for the visitors as the Cherries sought an equaliser.
But Villa held on for a 1-0 win to move level on points with Chelsea and Newcastle and keep their hopes for a top-five finish firmly alive.
Getting the job done 👊 #BOUAVL pic.twitter.com/W6xU6V8S49
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 10, 2025
The result also confirmed Villa’s place in a European competition for the third season in a row.
However, Emery’s sights are firmly on a place in the continent’s elite club tournament.
“Our first objective through the Premier League is to try to be consistent, and try to achieve our objective through it,” said the Villa boss.
“The players, they competed very well. It’s difficult here. Bournemouth, they are performing fantastically well.
“And Europe, we are in Europe. Conference, Europa or Champions League. Of course, we want to try to get our best dreams and play Champions League again.
“But there are still matches to play. There are teams in front of us but with this victory as well we can feel with some possibilities to get it.”
Villa’s final two games are against Tottenham and Manchester United, the teams competing in this season’s Europa League final.
And Emery insists he is not looking any further than the next match.
Emery said: “We are playing Tottenham at home and we are going to focus on this match only.
“We have to do our work and doing our work like today I am happy. I am really proud of how we are doing.”
