Aston Villa return to action next week following the conclusion of the March international break and weekend FA Cup fixtures.

Unai Emery’s side face a demanding schedule, playing seven games in the space of 16 days. Their run begins with a trip to face Bologna in Italy, before they then take on Nottingham Forest between the two legs of their Europa League quarter-final, ahead of hosting Fulham.

Securing qualification for the Champions League remains Emery’s primary objective in the final two months of the season, while ending the club’s 30-year trophy drought is also a key target, with the Europa League offering that opportunity.

Villa have now reached three consecutive European quarter-finals under Emery, who transformed the club in a matter of months following his appointment as head coach in November 2022.

Now manager, Emery is the most powerful figure at the club and would cement his status as a legend by delivering silverware in May - potentially securing his fifth Europa League title.

Pau Torres, who won the competition under Emery in 2021 with Villarreal, spoke to Marca during Villa’s trip...