Emery looks to show Villa can compete with elite

Emery celebrates his 55th birthday on Tuesday by facing Barca back in his home country.

Carragher's assertion the Spaniard would be open to leaving Villa was naive, given how much Emery controls matters at the club and the success he has had with them, even if it was not the most sensational of opinions.

He signed his most recent contract in May 2024, taking him to 2029, so Villa are protected - but there will ultimately be a new deal following the Europa League triumph.

He has taken Villa up the pecking order, but they are still not at the top of it - though they remain well placed, as the signing of Johan Manzambi from Freiburg showed.