Unai Emery happy ‘ambitious’ Aston Villa are heading into run-in on fresh legs

Unai Emery feels his Aston Villa team are in great shape as they set their sights firmly on silverware.

Villa moved a step closer to a first major trophy success since 1996 as they reached the FA Cup semi-finals with a 3-0 victory at Sky Bet Championship club Preston on Sunday.

Marcus Rashford scored his first two goals for the club in what ultimately proved to be a straightforward victory, with Jacob Ramsey adding a fine third.

Now, with a Champions League quarter-final against Paris St Germain to come and the Premier League’s top four within reach, Villa have plenty to look forward to in the closing weeks of the campaign.

And unlike last season, when injuries caught up with Emery’s side and their Europa Conference League bid ended at the semi-final stage, Villa have a relatively clean bill of health.

Emery said: “Two years ago we were barely finishing the season strong and fresh in our mind. Last year we finished tired, not fresh, (with) injured players.

“This year, the only way we have is to finish as best as possible by being fresh, being ambitious and demanding to play until the last minute.

“Of course, always we are at risk of getting some more injured players, but now we are recovering every player, more or less.

“To have players for 90 minutes to keep our structure as strong as possible and physically as strong as possible is very important. Here we had players to continue working to the same plan and on the bench we had players to do it.

“We are in the key moment this season. The matches are very important and we will need players.”

Villa found it tough to break down Preston in the first half at Deepdale but stepped up after the break.

Rashford, rejuvenated since joining Villa on loan from Manchester United in January, set up the victory with two goals in the space of five minutes either side of the hour mark, the second coming from the penalty spot. Ramsey put the seal on the performance with a long-range strike.

Villa will now face Crystal Palace at Wembley for a place in the final.

It is their best run in the competition since they last reached the final 10 years ago.

Emery said: “I think it’s the most important cup in the world. Here in England it is historic and very prestigious.

“To play the semi-final and go to Wembley is very special.”