Emerson is on the brink of making history.
As it stands, Champions League, Europa League, and Super Cup medals are all hung in the Emerson household from his time with Chelsea.
One more - a UEFA Europa Conference League triumph with West Ham United - would complete quite a quartet for a player who also won the UEFA European Championship with Italy in 2021.
“It’d be a privilege,” Emerson, enthused on the prospect of becoming the first player to win all four UEFA competitions. “I’m already privileged to have won those trophies, but when you set something as a goal, you then start making plans.
“You then take a closer look at them, and right now, in the Conference League, we’re in the round of 16, so it’s not a distant goal any more, or unrealistic [for us to think of the final].”
Of course, there is work to be done. Emerson knows what is required to get there.
The Hammers, the only side to progress into the UECL knockouts with a 100 per cent record, have won eight of eight fixtures so far in the competition. They are now seven games from a first European trophy since 1965 – and start with a trip to AEK Larnaca in the round of 16.
“I know what such a significant trophy would mean to the club,” Emerson explained. “And to myself as well, as a personal goal. I’ve set it as a goal and it’s within our reach. Let’s hope it works out well.”
The Italy full-back's experience of winning trophies will be crucial should West Ham progress through the knockouts. The Hammers’ UEFA Europa League campaign in 2021/22 ended at the semi-final stage, so the Irons, looking to go two steps further in the UECL, will need the experience of players such as the 28-year-old.
The full-back is modest though. He knows the team needs to be together to reach that goal, and is ready to play his part to help some of the younger players with the pressure of big game situations.
“I think the other players see me, perhaps, as a successful player, because of those achievements,” he stated. “They sometimes ask me about it but I’m not the kind of person who enjoys bringing that up and bragging about it.
“But sometimes when I’m with Lucas Paquetá and other players, they’ll ask me how it feels to win the Champions League, the Europa League and what I tell them is this: ‘Winning is pretty good. The feeling of becoming champions and reaching the top is pretty good.’
“So, now, as we are in this position in the Conference League, I’ve already told them: 'Guys, winning is pretty good, becoming champions is priceless.'
“For us footballers, it’s the pinnacle. Once you’re a champion, you take that with you for the rest of your life. When your career is over, you’ll open your drawer and find all of your medals and achievements there – and that cannot be taken away.”
One such medal Emerson hopes will be there come June is the Conference League.
