'Anything is possible': Ex-Aston Villa midfielder backs Unai Emery to deliver further success

Villa head into their final Champions League group phase match against Celtic on Wednesday evening - looking to secure their automatic qualification for the next round.

Their progression in the competition will be the latest success story for Emery, who as raised the ambitions and the expectations since he walked through the door back in October 2022.

Emery came in to help Villa avoid relegation and not only did that - but helped them climb the Premier League and qualify for the Europa Conference League.

On their return to Europe, Villa reached the semi-finals of the competition while defying the odds to return to Europe's elite competition as they finished fourth in the Premier League and qualified for the Champions League.

A famous victory over Bayern Munich early in the league phase combined with victories over Young Boys and Bologna leaves Villa now needing a victory to qualify for the next round of the competition.

There has been huge strides made at Villa both on and off the pitch since Emery's arrival, and former Villa favourite Hitzlsperger, who played 114 times during five years at the club, believes the success so far is just the beginning.

He told BBC Sport: "Despite the obstacles in their path, there is one big reason to be optimistic about Villa's future - and that is Unai Emery himself.

"Together with Villa's president of football operations, Monchi, and Damian Vidagany, the director of football, he has moved the club in a direction where a lot of people are thinking they are not just an established Premier League club, but are capable of winning trophies.

"I like the fact that, right from when he was first appointed, Emery has not been afraid to say his target is trophies. I've seen for myself that he has changed the attitudes of many people at the club, just by stressing the importance of being meticulous in whatever you are doing.

"His message or mantra is that it is the details that make a difference, and also to never stop working hard.

"He leads by example on that because he lives football, and Villa, 24/7 and is so demanding of the people around him.

"I know myself that it is fun to be winning, and fun to play good football. That is what the Villa players have experienced, and that's why they know it is worth continuing to work very hard.

"With Emery in charge, it feels like anything is possible - this is the start, and now they just need to keep going."