Unai Emery sat down with the media after Aston Villa’s 1-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Here’s everything he said in his post-match press conference…
You must be delighted after Thursday?
“We are trying to separate this competition and to be competitive, progressing with the players. We were not competitive in the first two matches playing away against top seven teams like Newcastle and Liverpool. We didn’t keep a clean sheet at Legia Warsaw and we were very concerned about the importance of today, keeping a clean sheet through a clean sheet.
“To be strong defensively too, keep possession when we need it. We needed the goalkeeper today, Emi Martinez played very well.We faced the match today trying to do different things.”
Ollie Watkins scored his first goal of the season…
“He works hard every day in practice with his teammates. His commitment to the club is amazing and really, we will need his goals like today. I think his first objective is to try to get his performance to the team, scoring as well helping us. This is the mentality we want.”
How do you feel after the start you’ve had?
“Overall I think we are progressing. We changed some players, we had some difficult injuries to Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia. The most important is to create our style and idea as quick as possible with the new players we add as soon as possible.
“To get it every day, we must be consistent defensively and competitive like we were today. Strong at home playing really good and winning a lot of matches, but away we must try to get the same performances. To win here at Chelsea in 90 minutes everything that happened today was something normal.
“To win here is not easy. We could have lost as well. We were very competitive, we felt strong defensively, better than the last matches we played away. This is a step ahead today.”
Did you think it was a red card for Gusto?
“I didn’t watch it. I tried with the referees, with VAR, to be respectful. When they decided offside, not offside, red card, not red card, then I try to understand.”
What was your message at half-time?
“Keep the same game plan we were doing and try to improve things because the first half I think we had a good balance. I think we needed more, offensively more, getting in the box more. Then, to keep the same, we were feeling strong, feeling good.
“We have to try to control it better. We are in construction and we have to create this mentality like we showed today. Try to be competitive in each match and face each competition with different players, or objective in each moment.”
Can Ollie Watkins now go on a run?
“Ollie Watkins’ commitment every day is very high. Every day he wants to improve. He wants to work and to help the team. When he is scoring then we are happy for him because he always deserves to score. He is trying to get his objective and target through the team. First is to win and then it is to score. Today we won and he scored. It’s brilliant for the team.”
Do you hope the club can get him on a new contract?
“I am concerned [aware] about it and I am working about it.”
Do you mean you are worried?
“No, no, no. We are in touch.”
Did you think Pau Torres grew into the game?
“We needed from him the skill to build up with the goalkeeper and trying to combine with the midfielders. Of course, we are practising a lot, and sometimes it doesn’t work well. We have to be consistent and focusing even when we are not doing well trying to be strong in the structure we want to create. We want to feel strong doing it.”
Can you give an update on Alex Moreno?
“His injury was very hard. He’s been better and better, but he is not feeling 100 per cent comfortable to play. We decided to stop some days, maybe one week or two weeks. Hopefully he is being close again to being in the squad.”
