Aston Villa Striker sent home from training following furious bust-up with Manager Unai Emery ahead of Feynoord Clash
Unai Emery, Aston Villa’s meticulous manager, has issued a rallying cry to his players ahead of their UEFA Europa League clash against Feyenoord on October 2, 2025, at the iconic De Kuip stadium.
With Villa riding high after a 1-0 victory over Bologna in their Europa League opener and back-to-back Premier League wins against Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Emery is urging his squad to channel the club’s storied European legacy to meet the challenge of Feyenoord’s intimidating home atmosphere.
He referenced Villa’s 1982 European Cup triumph over Bayern Munich at the same venue—a 1-0 win that remains the club’s crowning achievement—urging his players to draw emotional inspiration from that historic moment.
“We need to show and to get emotions,” Emery emphasized, warning that modern players must connect with the club’s past to fuel their performance in this high-stakes encounter.
Emery’s message comes with added weight due to Villa’s injury concerns. Key midfielders Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana are sidelined, alongside defender Tyrone Mings, who is nursing an ankle injury and expected back after the international break. testing Villa’s squad depth. Emery stressed tactical discipline and mental resilience, noting Feyenoord’s formidable home record—unbeaten in four home games this season, conceding just one goal, and with past victories over Bayern Munich and AC Milan at De Kuip in last season’s Champions League. The Dutch side, led by Robin van Persie, will miss midfielder Quinten Timber, defenders Gernot Trauner and Jakub Moder, and forward Malcolm Ebiowei, offering Villa a slight edge.
Emery described De Kuip’s atmosphere as a true test of European football’s intensity, warning that every visiting team has “struggled” there. With Villa sitting second in their Europa League group, a win could solidify their position. Kickoff is at 8:00 PM BST, broadcast on Paramount+ in the US. Emery’s blend of historical inspiration and tactical focus aims to ensure his players rise to the occasion in Rotterdam.