ASTON THRILLERS

UNAI EMERY has challenged Aston Villa to prove they are the real deal in their quest for a first FA Cup in 68 years.

- BY BRENDAN MCLOUGHLIN

A semi-final date with Crystal Palace at Wembley awaits the Birmingham club, whose last major trophy was the League Cup in 1996.

Emery took Villa to the last four of the Europa Conference League last year only for them to come up short against eventual winners Olympiakos.

Buoyed by high-quality arrivals, such as two-time FA Cup winner Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio (right, with Morgan Rogers), Villa have looked a serious proposition of late.

And Emery has thrown down the gauntlet to his team and urged them to show on the big Wembley stage the strides they have made.

He said: "The idea is you have to improve in everything - more work, better work, try to make your players better, sign some players who improve the squad.