Unai Emery
Aston Villa held their ground in a thrilling pre-season friendly against a Bundesliga team, with the match ending in a draw. Goals from Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers, both assisted by Donyell Malen, showcased Villa’s attacking prowess. The game served as a crucial test for Unai Emery’s squad as they prepare for the upcoming season. Emery shared his insights on the match and the team’s progress during the pre-season.
Unai Emery said: “We are happy here, and we are working in this pre-season to build the team and build the same structure tactically. We are adapting because everything changes so quickly in football. Today, we played 90 minutes against one team who will play in the Champions League. It is a good test for us.”
Emery emphasized the importance of integrating players who returned late for pre-season, highlighting the role of young academy players in the initial weeks.
He stated: “Progressively, we started the first two weeks with young players from the academy. For them, it is important. Now, we are adding and joining the players who were arriving later for different circumstances. They were getting fit and getting rhythm collectively and tactically to start doing things we want to do this year.”
Looking ahead, Emery discussed the upcoming matches against MLS teams, noting the different challenges they present.
“The next two matches, we are playing against MLS teams. Last year, Columbus showed us their capacity. St. Louis is towards the bottom, and Nashville are in a good position in the league. For us, there is still work to do,” Emery commented.
Emery also provided his assessment of Malen’s performance and the overall team effort.
He remarked: “All the players did their work. The most important thing is to build a team progressively with players we will want to be important. Of course, every player has to feel a protagonist and with momentum for them. With the process we have, we want to start the season as best as possible. August is very important, focusing on it.”
The match against the Bundesliga side offered valuable insights into the team’s strengths and areas needing improvement. Emery acknowledged the positives and the need for consistency in their build-up play.
“Today, there were a lot of positive things and also some things that we didn’t perform like we wanted. For some players, our build-up was not good because we conceded some goals and chances. The first idea in my mind is to get strong and to get our structure for the season, more or less being consistent,” Emery explained.
As Villa continues their pre-season journey, Emery remains focused on ensuring his squad is well-prepared for the challenges of the upcoming season.
About The Author
