Unai Emery
Unai Emery spoke of his delight after masterminding Aston Villa’s incredible 2-0 win over Chelsea on Saturday evening. Goals from Ollie Watkins and John McGinn sealed it and here’s everything the manager said in his post-match press conference at Stamford Bridge.
Unai, how was that?
“We are happy but I think in the balance as well with this three points we are thinking we are now in the top 10. But we play on Tuesday as well so we cannot stop, we have to keep going and be competitive like today. We won and we were speaking how we have to be competitive and clever in the mind, we need to be offensively good and defensively good and brilliant like we were today. We are in the top 10, now we have to keep it. We have to play on Tuesday but first we rest and analyse this game. Then we have to be competitive against Leicester and not stop in our ambition. It was amazing today defensively, the commitment from every player was amazing. We have to understand sometimes to play good we have to be brilliant defensively. I think we are improving, we are as well being consistent and competitive away. Everybody is in good commitment to work. Confidence is the consequence of practicing and practicing with yourself. The only way I know is to practice, be demanding and think 100% football.”
Is European qualification realistic now?
“[To qualify for Europe is] very difficult. But if we keep winning points then maybe we can keep adding a new objective. Hopefully yes.”
How is Boubacar Kamara? Has he picked up an injury?
“I saw him in the first half. The first two balls he hit… he was alone and we were building up. I didn’t see him being so comfortable with the ball. Then his foot was strange, how he was running. I decided to play him after one month more or less being injured because he trained very well in the week. But really, after the first 15 minutes and his yellow card, I was thinking we are going to keep and to get together in the first half and we’ll decide if he was to continue or not and I prefer to take him off in the second half. Hopefully he’ll be ready for the next match.”
How happy is John McGinn? I think that’s his first goal in 47 games…
“Yes, but his performances are very good. His commitment every day with his teammates practicing. In the dressing room he’s smiling. He likes training, playing. He’s very, very intelligent. I can use him in different positions. It was amazing as well, his power and his mentality! We are very happy with him because while we are here trying to know the players – he’s not a surprise because I knew before he was a very good player but now I feel it here. There were some doubts about him before I arrived but now there’s no doubts with him because his performances are great on and off the pitch. He’s helping us!”
