Emery is the most successful manager in Europa League history, having lifted the trophy three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal, and also guiding Arsenal to the 2019 final. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Yet, his current side has struggled to get going domestically. Villa remain winless in their first five Premier League games and had failed to score before Sunday\u2019s 1-1 draw at 10-man Sunderland.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cOur start, we\u2019ve not been doing well,\u201d admitted the Spaniard, who cut a frustrated figure after the draw. \u201cThere is still work to do; some players are adapting in the squad and our idea, and they will need time. Other players were here last year and know how we want to build the team and how we were being successful in the last three years.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Villa reached the quarterfinals of last season\u2019s Champions League, losing 5-4 on aggregate to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain. After narrowly missing out on qualification for the competition again, they now begin their first Europa League main-draw campaign since 2008\u201309 at home to Bologna on Thursday \u2014 a repeat of their 2-0 win over the Italians in the Champions League last October. Bologna qualified this year by winning the Italian Cup, their first major trophy since 1974.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Like Emery, Nottingham Forest\u2019s new boss Ange Postecoglou also knows the feeling of Europa League glory. The Australian, appointed earlier this month, ended Tottenham\u2019s long trophy drought by beating Manchester United in last season\u2019s final. Still, he is searching for his first victory at Forest following two defeats, including an early League Cup exit, and Saturday\u2019s 1-1 draw at Burnley.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI do like my teams to play exciting football and score goals,\u201d Postecoglou said upon his arrival at the City Ground, home to the 1979 and 1980 European Cup winners. \u201cNo apologies about that. That\u2019s just the way I am and the way I want to see my teams play.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Forest travel to Spain on Wednesday to face Real Betis in their first European fixture since the quarterfinals of the 1995\u201396 UEFA Cup against Bayern Munich. Betis, managed by Manuel Pellegrini, finished runners-up to Chelsea in last season\u2019s UEFA Conference League and boast former Manchester United winger Antony, who has rejoined the club on a five-year deal after a successful loan spell.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Elsewhere, the competition welcomes heavyweights and fallen giants alike. Celtic, led by Brendan Rodgers, travel to Serbia to face Red Star Belgrade in a clash of former European champions. Rangers, meanwhile, enter the Europa League under mounting pressure. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Forest travel to Spain on Wednesday to face Real Betis in their first European fixture since the quarterfinals of the 1995\u201396 UEFA Cup against Bayern Munich. Betis, managed by Manuel Pellegrini, finished runners-up to Chelsea in last season\u2019s UEFA Conference League and boast former Manchester United winger Antony, who has rejoined the club on a five-year deal after a successful loan spell.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The competition also features two-time winners Porto, who open against Salzburg, and Feyenoord under Robin van Persie, who begin at Braga. Roma, twice runners-up, meet Nice, while Fenerbahce \u2014 who parted ways with Jose Mourinho after missing the Champions League \u2014 start their campaign at Dinamo Zagreb.<\/p>\r\n\r\n