When Unai Emery arrived at Villa Park in November 2022, he set out two ambitions: win a trophy with Aston Villa, and return the club to European football. Both have now been achieved — and on Tuesday night, Emery will walk out at the Nou Camp to face Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League, having guided Villa to the UEFA Europa League title in May, ending a 30-year wait for silverware.

The 55-year-old celebrates his birthday on Tuesday against Barcelona in his home country Spain. Rather than resting on his achievements, Emery is using the occasion to measure exactly how far Villa have come.

Villa ready to test themselves against Barcelona

"We are constantly seeking new challenges and we want to respond in games against Barcelona to see how far we are from them," Emery said. "We won it [the European Cup] in 1982 and right now we are enjoying reminiscing with our fans, playing in this competition again, and trying to repeat that success."

Barcelona lead the Champions League group ahead of Tuesday's match with six points, while Aston Villa sit above them on nine. Emery sees the contest as a critical reference point for the project he is building in the Midlands.

"Barca are favourites because of the present and what they have done over the last 10 years, but they need to confirm their favourite role," he added. "Barcelona have six points, we have nine. We need to find out our personality and make the most of our qualities."

Respect from the opposition dugout

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick offered warm words for his counterpart ahead of the fixture, acknowledging Emery's record as one of the finest coaches in the game. Emery has won the UEFA Europa League three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal — four titles in the competition before his triumph with Villa.

"He is one of the best coaches in Europe and the world. He is very successful," Flick said. "In the way his team plays, you can see a clear structure, and in offence they have different patterns. For me, it is amazing to see his team. It will be a tough game against a good team and, as well, a great coach."

Barcelona winger Anthony Gordon also described Emery as "one of the best in the world" in the build-up to the match.

A difficult record at the Nou Camp

Emery's personal record at Barcelona's stadium makes for uncomfortable reading: he has lost 14 of his 15 visits, winning against Barcelona only three times in 30 attempts overall. His most painful memory at the ground came when Paris Saint-Germain, whom he was managing at the time, surrendered a 4-0 first-leg advantage and lost 6-1 in the UEFA Champions League last 16.

"Everything happened in that match, we know," Emery reflected. "I started in 2004, playing in Europe 16 years in a row, different competitions, I have learned in all the competitions. In that match I learned so much."

No English club has won at the Nou Camp since Liverpool in 2007, a statistic Emery is well aware of as he prepares to try to rewrite his own history there.

Transforming Villa — and facing what comes next

Emery was given full control when he replaced Steven Gerrard at Villa Park and has overhauled the club from top to bottom, turning Premier League also-rans into European champions. His methods are rigorous — detailed tactical meetings run for hours during the week, and new arrivals can take months to fully absorb his demands. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, signed from West Ham United, is one player still adapting to that environment this season.

Villa lost several key figures over the summer — among them Emi Martinez, Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne, and Ollie Watkins, the latter departing for Saudi Arabia. Yet Emery has embraced the opportunity to reshape the squad, with Johan Manzambi's arrival from Freiburg among the notable additions.

Speculation has swirled around Emery's future, most publicly when Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher suggested he would want to leave for a bigger club — prompting Villa to threaten legal action. Emery is under contract until 2029, extended in May 2024, and Villa regard themselves as a club on the rise, not one a manager would need to leave behind. A new deal is expected to follow the Europa League success.

"We are here progressing, understanding, setting our demands and competing at the level we are — this is the challenge we have," Emery said. The Nou Camp on Tuesday night is his next opportunity to prove it.