'Emery is gently raising Aston Villa's sights in Champions League'

"Protagonist: the main figure, or one of the most prominent figures in a situation," says the dictionary. It is a word Unai Emery has taken to using a lot.

"We are very motivated playing Champions League," he said on Monday, after Villa arrived in Monaco. "For me, it's very special, and I am transmitting it to the players as well, trying to feel it, to play Europe... We want to compete and try to be a protagonist in this competition."

In his quiet way, Emery is gently raising Aston Villa's sights in the Champions League, just as he did in the Premier League after taking over in November 2022.

First, he stabilised them, banishing fears of relegation, but then he was among the first to talk up the possibility of a run for Europe. Last season, he was more measured at first, but as the possibility of a top-four finish took form, Emery talked them up without ever suggesting over-confidence.

So it has been with this campaign: first talking of being competitive, then of trying to qualify, and now of finishing in the top section of the grand table.

Generating enough confidence in your players so they believe they can achieve great things, without over-inflating them, is an art.

Ezri Konsa, one of those whose career has pushed forward under Emery, testifies that it works.

"He's put so much confidence into us. Going into every game we believed we were going to win, no matter who we were up against," the defender said of their Champions League run so far.

"So I wouldn't say it's a surprise. We're a good team, and I think we've proved it."

Many Villa fans I have spoken to on this trip seem on one level amazed that the top eight is such a real possibility now, but also feel their team entirely deserves it.

"Maybe 17 is the points we need," says Emery, and a draw here and a win over Celtic next week would take them to that. But, in his now established way with Villa, Emery challenges his team to aim higher.

"Our opportunity - and our objective - is to try to get 19 points, because with 19 points, for sure we will be there."

Listen to full commentary of Monaco v Aston Villa at 17:45 GMT on Tuesday on BBC Radio WM