Emi Martinez wants to play in the Champions League with Aston Villa and insists it would be too "easy" to play in the competition by leaving the club.

The Argentina number one is set to make his 124th appearance for Villa on Thursday night, as Unai Emery's side play AZ Alkmaar at the AFAS Stadion. They come into the Europa Conference League group stage game on the back of a 4-1 win over West Ham on Sunday, which extended the club's winning run at Villa Park to 11 league matches.

Villa currently occupy fifth position - having won six of their first nine league games - and are four points off early Premier League leaders Tottenham Hotspur. Martinez has previously spoken about his ambitions to play Champions League football now he is at the peak of his career, but he wants to do it with Villa.

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Asked if the club's ambitions align with his, Martinez said: "I think they can match, that’s why I’ve decided to stay here. It’s a club which wants to be in Champions League and win a trophy.

"The main conversation with Unai was how do we get there? There are plans to extend Villa Park as well. Like I said when I joined the club, I’m not here to waste time. Since I joined we’ve been moving forward. That is the main reason I want to put Aston Villa in a Champions League place and try to win silverware, that is for sure.

"If you look at my first interviews at the club it has always been about qualifying for the Champions League and winning a trophy. I believe since day one that I will leave this club one day with silverware or qualifying for the Champions League."

He added: "Obviously the ambitions are high. Since I joined the club, Aston Villa ’s ambitions are high. You have to ask where the path is going for the club. If they want to stay in the Premier League, then that’s not what I want.

"Always since day one they want to move forward, wants to be in the Champions League, all the signings are top players to be in the Champions League spot. It’s easy to go and play in the Champions League somewhere else. It’s harder to do it at a club who haven’t been in the Champions League for years. It’s a challenge. I love the club and I have been here for nearly four years. I want to play in the Champions League with Aston Villa."

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