Aston Villa stormed to their sixth win on the spin at Villa Park by downing European rivals Tottenham 2-1 in front of a jubilant home crowd. Here’s Unai Emery’s reaction in full from the press room with all eyes on Liverpool now next week.
It was a dominant first half where you could have been three or four ahead – did you deserve the win?
Good evening. Yes, I think we played at a high level, the first half better than the second. We kept our identity in the ball possession. We created chances and we have to work thinking that is the way we want to build here with the team. To be consistent and focused in 90 minutes is not easy. We were playing against a good team, a team ahead of us in the table. They played a little bit better but, in the end, we deserved to win. That is the way we want to create, to connect with the supporters and get their energy. This is the sixth game we win in a row here. It’s now important to keep motivated because it gives us opportunities to get to Europe.
Unai, when you first came here the atmosphere from the club was very low. You’ve quickly changed that and it’s now very high, the connection between the team and the fans again, and yourself. How powerful is that connection, given the sixth home win?
It’s very important, the supporters. They are travelling away every match, 3,000, 4,000 supporters. And here at home there are 42,000 supporters behind us trying to give us energy. We have the responsibility to give them one idea, one style… emotions and then try to win.
When we were playing some matches not very well and not controlling like we are now, the supporters were supporting us. When we lost against Arsenal and Leicester, the supporters were there. When we are winning, they are more excited.
Unai, only Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta have a higher points-per-game record than yourself since you came to the Premier League. Can you sustain that – or get even better?
First, it’s to try and be competitive and to adapt quickly in the idea and the style we want to create to build here. Then it’s how we face each opponent. At the beginning we were very good away from home. It was amazing. The last two matches we lost, we drew in Brentford and we’re still being less competitive away and have taken less points than before. At home is completely different. We started with a little bit of doubt. After beating Manchester United we lost to Liverpool, drew against Wolves, we lost against Leicester and Arsenal but after those matches, I really changed something in my mind first then tried to change with the players. It wasn’t the way I wanted to do. The last six games have been completely different. Today as well: keep being different. The first half, I was very, very happy. The second half was very difficult to keep the performance. My objective in the next match is to be consistent for 90 minutes more. The players are showing their high commitment. We’re connecting with our supporters. We will keep trying to get in each step ahead.
Unai, did you feel that the Europa League was a realistic target?
No. No. When I arrived here no, clearly. It was a process. I told the players it was not the objective this year to go to Europe. But if we can have chances to go there we will try to get it. If we don’t, OK, it’s not a failure. It’s a process. Our success is being progressively going up and our demands are very high. We need to improve every day.
How about the Europa League after today?
Today, yes, because we are improving. Now, our challenge is coming again next week against Liverpool away because away we’re not as competitive as we were before. We are going to work strongly this week trying to get the opportunity to get a European position.
You started Leon Bailey on the right today. What did you make of his performance?
Very well, very well. He played 45 minutes against Wolves. He’s been injured and today he played very well. He assisted to Jacob for the first goal. I think he’s a very committed now to help us again. We needed him and we’ll need him now.
Douglas Luiz said downstairs ‘we believe in Unai Emery’. How much do you believe in the players?
I believe in them. We have to create a small family inside being demanding. We need to improve every day and practice a lot. Then we need to build a strong mentality, to win, trying to take here our life focusing on football.
How’s Philippe Coutinho, is he OK?
No. Yesterday he had again a small injury but I don’t know exactly now how long he’s going to be.
How important is John McGinn?
Yes, he had a massive game. He’s very good every day, his commitment, he’s smiling every day and works every day with a really good spirit. Then his qualities adding in different positions is always being good for the team. He’s very competitive in every position and now playing as a No.8, he’s playing very well. I changed his position and he did it. When I analysed him before I came here I watched him, qualities, to add in my idea here with him. Progressively, the first match he started on the bench against Manchester United but he showed me his commitment, his capacity and he’s a very important player for us.
