Securing Champions League still the priority for Emery

UNAI Emery insists Villa players cannot use reaching the Europa League final as an excuse for failing to perform in tomorrow's trip to Burnley.

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After the highs of overcoming Nottingham Forest to reach a first continental final in four decades, Villa return to the Premier League against the already-relegated Clarets.

And Emery stressed the immediate focus is to ensure Champions League football for next season.

Villa head to the northwest in fifth place, level on points with Liverpool, and six clear of sixth-placed Brighton with three games to play.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference at Bodymoor Heath yesterday, Emery says he expects the players to show the right mentality.

"We have our own experiences during the three years playing in Europe and playing matches in a row in a few days," he said. "And especially this year, we performed fantastic.

"A lot of times, playing in Europe on Thursday and then playing on Sunday. But it's true, the last three months after we played in Istanbul against Fenerbahce and (that) weekend in Newcastle winning, we didn't win away.