Unai Emery Q&A: Every word Aston Villa Boss said about injuries, Bailey, McGinn and Brentford
Aston Villa news from BirminghamLive as Unai Emery previews his side’s Premier League clash against Brentford
Unai Emery spoke to the media at Bodymoor Heath ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Villa are targeting their third league victory in a row, but will be without Douglas Luiz and Lucas Digne for the match. Here’s every word Emery said to the media at Bodymoor Heath.
Unai, can we start with team news?
“Today is a really difficult day for us to know how we can face on Sunday against Brentford because some players they are a bit tired and some players have injuries. Tomorrow we will know how they will be for Sunday, whether they will be available or not.
“It is very important to rest, all we can do is rest. Tomorrow we will prepare the match. Sunday will be a challenge for us and we are motivated. The players are ready in their mind being aware about how we can play on Sunday and the possibility to keep a good position in the table.”
“Tielemans and Bailey are both doubts. Olsen is out. Traore is out and we have two players suspended, Lucas Digne and Douglas Luiz. The players that played yesterday, we are going to wait for tomorrow.
How big of a blow is not having Luiz or Digne?
“I think it is normal in every team for players to be suspended and injured. Maybe there are more injured players than normal. Other teams as well.
“We faced Tottenham with players out injured and faced Man City with a lot of players as well out and of course, it is not an excuse for them and it is not an excuse for us. I want to be positive and support the players in our squad when the opportunity comes for them like yesterday. We had Duran, Dendoncker, Flip the goalkeeper, try to get their performances individually.”
How important was it to avoid the ECL play-off?
“Firstly, our objective was to finish first in the group and avoid the game in February. But if we had to play them we would play them being positive and try to use those matches to keep our performances with different players as well in the squad. Sometimes it is better than not.
“We are happy because in Europe we are feeling good and we are feeling good. We are respecting the teams we are playing, like Zrinjski. Even when they were out. They were excited and motivated to play against us. We respected them and it was a very good experience for us and to play in this competition.”
Are your players enjoying the challenge of playing lots of games?
“Being competitive, we are very demanding and myself I am demanding. We are trying to increase our demands with the players on how we can improve. We are really enjoying it, but being demanding. We are getting to the high level we are facing.
“The games against City and Arsenal were tough, but even playing those matches I want to be demanding and trying to keep consistent in our way and in our demands. We are going to analyse as well how we can face the match on Sunday, improving the match we played against Bournemouth away and Nottingham Forest.
“We want to improve on the match we played against Wolverhampton too as those matches, we didn’t play as we wanted and didn’t get the result we wanted. Enjoy working and enjoy being demanding. Enjoy getting the high level in our capacity facing Premier League matches. That is my objective.”
Why do you think John McGinn has improved under your management?
“He must play better and he can. He is playing in good performances usually, but I want more of him. I think he could play better and he could be more consistent. Of course, I am very happy with him because of his commitment and his behaviour. He is an example for others. He is playing well, or very well maybe, but I want more!”
What more do you want from McGinn?
“I am analysing every match, every match we are playing. For example, he can improve the match he played at Bournemouth. That is the last match we played away. He can improve.”
Is thre more to come from Leon Bailey?
“He is being consistent and for the team sometimes with his quality, a really key player. We can get the difference through him. Of course, I am very demanding with him because he is increasing his level and progressively getting better. But I think his challenge now is to be consistent, at home and away, against top teams and those not in the best position. My challenge with him is to achieve that.”
Experiences you can draw on, managing a team not seen as title favourites high up in the table?
“The difference with those teams (Villarreal, Valencia and Sevilla) is we were playing in Europe consistently. With Valencia, we played in the Champions League and Europa League for four years, the same with Sevilla four years and two-and-a-half years in Villarreal.
“Here we are just starting to play in Europe and we are very happy but also starting to increase our demands with every match. I want to be consistent as well, in getting Europe every year but it is very difficult.
“More here in the Premier League because there are lots of teams targeting Europe who are bigger contenders than us. Last year we got in the Conference League and it was the first step. Still in my mind the objective I have for Sunday, the next days, the next month and the next year is to try and get Villa to be consistent and play regularly in Europe and try to increase our level.
“Try to get Europa League and Champions League, that is my first objective. I am going to be
demanding with myself, the club and the players to work hard and get those objectives.”
You’re third in the table – can you push further?
“No, I will speak about it (the title) when we are on day 30, or 32, in the case we are there. Right now I can’t set this objective in my mind, with the club and the players. Now, we are third and it is amazing, we deserve it. But it is very difficult.
“Brentford on Sunday will be a very difficult match and against those teams, more or less, we are having more problems getting a good performance and imposing our gameplan. Why? Because the Premier League is very difficult. Wolverhampton was very difficult, Nottingham Forest too and Bournemouth. Sunday is really very difficult.”
Villarreal – you beat Inter and Bayern in the Champions League – can you draw on those experiences?
“Of course, that was tough. I am always focusing on challenges for myself and the matches we are facing. It is really tough to get it. I want to win against Manchester City and all these matches in a row at home. I want to be consistent and improving away and winning in games like Sunday.
“That is the challenge I have and share with the players. Europe, the league, Europe, playing a lot of matches. It is tough, hard and we have to rest, take our food. Our nutritionist is trying to help every player to be ready to play matches in three days. With some players injured, some suspended, we have players who will be ready to play and hopefully play well.”
What have you made of Brentford this season?
“We respect them. We finished last season beating Brighton but Brentford were just behind us and had a chance to overtake us if we didn’t. They are a very good team, very well coached with very good players. As a club they are improving and are very competitive.
“Last year they were close to us and facing us to play in Conference League. Now they are struggling a little bit with injuries to key players. But they are competitive and will play in the same spirit tactically. At home they are feeling strong.
“We are going to face them on Sunday trying to be competitive, better than we did in Bournemouth and trying to be successful.”
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