Unai Emery
Yes! When you’re working and focusing, and not having a lot of days to celebrate something, of course, you celebrate with family and friends, taking special moments. I’ve said 70% of our time is always working; focusing and preparing for matches. When you get your objective, it’s important to celebrate with players, friends and family. I want to enjoy what we’ve achieved. I think it’s fantastic. It wasn’t the first objective but our progression has been fantastic. The players were ambitious. We did it. It’s important to celebrate and be happy now to enjoy the moment.
So what is your favourite, is it a glass of red wine?
I sometimes like champagne as well!
Unai, have you spoken to the owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens?
Yes, yes. Before the match we were speaking about how motivated they were because Wes Eden has come to the last three matches here at home. Nassef has been at more matches as well because he’s based closer in London. I think it’s amazing for them to be here to share with us, with the players and the fans. They are very important in this project. They are very committed and they are supporting me, always. It’s easier because we’re winning. It’s easy then, right? But in the last six months I’m very grateful for their support; their help. I’m proud they were with our fans because they are really the heart of the club. We are professionals but we have to involve our heart now with Villa fans to understand everything and to try to start living moments like today. I was speaking with the players; that is our moment, it’s our time, now, to connect with our supporters for another objective. Our fans are proud of us and we are going with them.
Unai, can you remember when European qualification was a possibility?
We were speaking about how the seventh position was a possibility to play in Europe. The seventh place is Conference, OK, and we started thinking. Our progression was going well and other teams were not being consistent. But when we won at Chelsea 2-0, we were in the 10th and 11th positions but we were with [the teams above]. When we got the top 10, we started thinking about the sixth or seventh position. Brighton had a great season and they deserved to be in the Europa League. Our position as well, we deserve it.
Does qualifying for Europe change your recruitment plans for this summer?
I spoke with the players… I wanted to finish the season with them, not today but tomorrow or Tuesday. Some players will be with the national team and we’ll have holidays. I will now start preparing for next season. I will speak to the club. The club is working and I’m keeping in touch with the possibilities we can add [signings] for next year; speaking about who we can add and take the decision with players we already have here. Today, it was very important to be focused for this match. But we’ll start now thinking about the next project and be stronger than we have been.
Will you need a bigger squad now given you’ll have more games?
I don’t know exactly. Of course, we can add 10, 12, 15 matches more. When I came here I was thinking about trying to be strong in the Premier League. It was the first competition. Again, I wanted to add possibilities to win trophies; Carabao Cup, FA Cup and, now, if we could add Europe in our way as well. It’s another way to win a trophy in the Conference. We have to analyse everything as best as possible about how we can create and build our structure with the players in our squad. Now’s about being thankful with every player given the work they did.
What are your plans for Ashley Young next season given he’s out of contract?
I told him last week I will analyse his situation and how we want to do the next season with our squad. I will talk to him as soon as possible.
Did the preparation change for this game?
We were at a hotel in Birmingham, like usual, and had some meetings with the players. There was not much change from our routine. The most important thing was to play to win, thinking to be focused on our game plan. Today was a special match. Brighton is very different. They tried every match to control ball possession and keep the ball up the pitch. They have players who are wide and can threaten us. We decided to be aggressive in our high pressing, more aggressive than usual. Brighton, they taken a risk with their build up because they believe in this way. We prepared for it. We did it good, not very good or fantastic, because sometimes they stopped up. The key was to not let them play easy.
How did you manage the players’ nerves?
No, I don’t like to speak about the pressure because you have to be comfortable only focusing each minute on the pitch, focusing on your task. The second half, I told them try to continue trying to keep game plan, we have to share long ball with trying to connect to our midfielde because we are only going one direction with our build up. It was important to keep ball possession. Second half more or less I was pushing them and they did it.
Is there a personal sense of pride given how you were disrespected from your time at Arsenal?
I am a coach and manager who has experience in Spain, Russia, Paris, here in England. As a coach you have to win. I am not listening. I was never feeling disrespected here.
How important has your backroom team been throughout the last six months?
I started as a coach 20 years ago, more or less. I started like I am now. Twenty years ago there weren’t a lot of coaches showing video. I started with the players analysing with them, because my first objective is to show them everything. They have to always be demanding with everything we are doing. The players have followed us. In my career, I have been more successful more than less by doing it the same way, in Villarreal, in Paris, in Arsenal, in Valencia, in Sevilla, and here at Villa. The players want to win. But they also want to work more than less. They want our support from the coaches and the club and the supporters. Only my direction with them is trying toi help them always; me and the staff!
Can you go far in the Conference League with this squad?
It’s a new competition. I started it with Villarreal and I remember the matches we played, I enjoyed it a lot. Now with Villa we will add a new objective – a trophy, playing matches in different countries. I like it a lot and enjoy it a lot. Of course it will be more difficult with more matches, travel, but it is a big motivation to add more matches here on Thursdays at Villa Park. The supporters are very excited to travel.
