00:00Uri Emre believes Aston Villa are ready to challenge for a Champions League return, but the head coach insists missing out would not be seen as a failure.
00:14Villa secured European football for a third successive season with a 1-0 win at Bournemouth thanks to Ollie Watkins' record-breaking goal.
00:24The result guaranteed a top-seven finish, but with tough fixtures against Tottenham and Manchester United to come, a top-five spot and Champions League football is still hanging in the balance.
00:39Emre praised the character of his squad and especially Watkins, whose first-half strike made him Villa's all-time leading Premier League goalscorer with 75 goals, surpassing Gabriel Bonglahore.
00:55It's fantastic, Emre said. I am so, so grateful to manage Ollie. He is an example to his teammates with his attitude and consistency.
01:06Watkins, who joined from Brentford in 2020, turned in Morgan Rodgers' cross deep into first-half stoppage time at the Vitality Stadium.
01:16He later described the moment as a massive one for both club and his personal ambitions.
01:22Villa were largely in control until Jacob Ramsey's late red card added some tension to the closing stages, but they held firm to continue their remarkable run, now seven wins from their last eight league games.
01:37And hopefully we can come back again quick, again to play in Champions League.
01:44This is the objective, this is the next objective we will have for the next six matches we're going to play in Premier League, to get Europe and hopefully to get Champions League and to play in FA Cup as well for a trophy.
01:58Whatever European competition awaits, Emre insists, perspective is key.
02:05If we make the Champions League, it will be amazing.
02:08If not, we are still building something strong, something special at Aston Villa.
02:13If not, we are still building something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special, something special.
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