Unai Emery
We believe that’s your first clean sheet at home as Aston Villa manager, that must give you a sense of satisfaction…
Good evening. Yes, we were trying to add in our way a clean sheet at home because we haven’t done it. Today, our first priority was to win but with a clean sheet was really our focus. Then, it’s how we can manage 90 minutes. Overall, I’m happy about it.
What satisfied you most? What were you happiest with?
With the victory. With a clean sheet. I think this result for the future can help us to continue to keep building the team. Also, trying to be more competitive and more clinical in the style and idea we want to create. Today, in the first half, we did a lot of things good but, in the second half, a lot less. It’s satisfying about the match. Overall, it’s a good result with the first clean sheet.
How is Boubacar Kamara?
I don’t know exactly. I don’t know. At the beginning, maybe it’ll be some weeks away.
Can you talk about his performance? I thought Kamara was good today…
Yes, Bouba. Bouba has grown up a lot. He’s very intelligent. Young but intelligent. He understands football, overall, and he has potential. Progressively, I think he’s playing better. Defensively, it’s his first characteristic. But, with the ball, he’s improving a lot, trying to stay calm, keep ball possession, and try switching from right to left at the right moment. It’s good the way he’s been doing here.
Do you know what part of the leg he has injured?
I don’t know exactly. I don’t know the name of it. It’s not the ankle. Offering a little clarity on the matter, Emery’s assistant Damia Vidagany told reporters: “It’s the joint between the two bones in the leg. It’s not a clear diagnosis. We will have the assessment tomorrow. It’s not the ankle or the Achilles.”
If he’s out for a while, Unai, how much of a blow will that be?
Yes, today Leander Dendoncker wasn’t with us but, of course, hopefully he’s coming back quickly. As a midfielder, Calum Chambers he plays sometimes with me at Arsenal and he played at Fulham as a midfielder. I can use him in this position. I can use another player, maybe Ramsey or John McGinn or maybe another. They can adapt to play and to help us in this position. Hopefully, Bouba can return as soon as possible, Dendoncker as well.
Were you surprised that Ollie didn’t add to his run of goals. He had a great chance at the end of the first half, he would have broken another record. It was unusual that he missed that…
We want collectively and then individually, the challenge that they have to get the record. The most important thing for me is how the players are committed to the team, with our work offensively and defensively. Ollie is doing good work with each match. His first objective as a striker is to score but, when he’s not doing that, he’s being fantastic and working well.
Can I ask you of your reaction to the overnight newspaper reports concerning Leon Bailey, and the photographs that appeared online and in print. I’m wondering what your reaction was as manager?
They showed me at the end, before we came here to the press conference but I can’t say anything about it.
