Dean Smith held his pre-match press conference on Friday morning to preview Aston Villa’s Premier League opener against Watford.
The Villa head coach spoke to media from Bodymoor Heath via a virtual press conference and discussed a host of topics including the club's summer transfer business, who will wear the captain’s armband, the departure of Richard O’Kelly, facing the Hornets, team news and more.
Here’s what he had to say…
On Villa’s summer business…
“That was the important thing for us that we strengthened the squad depth this season. We felt we had an XI who could compete against anybody, including the top teams last season. Now we’ve got more variation, more adaptability and more depth, and that’s really important for us this season.
“Obviously Jack going is a big loss, we wanted to keep him here, and we would have added some more creativity and we had added some more creativity with Emi Buendía coming into the club whether Jack stayed or went.
“But I think we’re in a good place, our business has been good, we’ve raised £100million for a young lad who came through the Academy here at Aston Villa. And we’ve made him into a British record transfer.”
On whether he’s still hoping to bring some new faces in…
“I think we’re quite satisfied where we’re at at the moment, we’ve got a really healthy squad. Some good numbers in there and there will be some outgoings on loan before the window closes.”
On Villa’s captaincy…
“I have decided but I haven’t named it yet, I won’t be doing that until tomorrow. It’s not something I’ve wasted a lot of grey matter over, to be honest.
“I think we’ve got some extremely strong candidates within the dressing room, that’s what I like about the squad now.
“Tyrone Mings was vice-captain last year, John McGinn also vice-captain last year, Emi Martínez with the experience he’s shown, Ashley Young has come into the club, Ezri Konsa.
“So we’ve got a really, really strong leadership group within the team. I’ll name the captain with the players tonight and we’ll move forward.”
On the departure of Richard O’Kelly…
“It’s no big surprise and there’s no sinister in it at all. Knowing Richard as well as I do, he’s a selfless person and it wouldn’t have been an easy decision he’s had to make. But it’s one that would have been in his mind for the last month or two.
“And I think he’s just made a professional decision where he’s seen the progress of the football club and just felt it was time to step aside.
“With JT leaving and myself being off during isolation, Richard probably stayed on and didn’t make the decision as early as he probably wanted to.
“As I say, we’re in the process of replacing JT but I believe bringing in Austin MacPhee as a specialist coach adds to our ranks along with myself, Craig Shakespeare and Neil Cutler.
“I’ll miss Richard, personally, because he’s a very close friend of mine, I’ve learned an awful lot from him and had an awful lot of support from him as well.
“But I understand his reasons and he goes with our best wishes.”
On facing Watford…
“It was a great start (for Villa) last season and it built momentum from the start, and brought a consistency certainly in the first half of the season.
“We’ve got a team that’s been newly-promoted, in Watford, and they’ll be a little bit of unknown to us. But I’m sure with a full house, they’ll certainly start the game lively and we have to be at our best to beat them.
“It will be very difficult. But we’ve got some inside knowledge, my assistant, Craig Shakespeare, was assistant there the last time they were in the Premier League so he knows Vicarage Road very well and we’ll be going there with a gameplan to get all three points.”
On team news…
“We’re not too sure about Ollie (Watkins) at the moment, he went off with a knee injury (against Salernitana) which was bone bruising, so if he’s pain free today he’ll train, if he’s not then he won’t train and he won’t be available. So we’ll pretty much be guided by Ollie himself.
“Leon (Bailey) came in yesterday, he’s obviously had to isolate since coming from Jamaica but he’ll be available for the squad on Saturday.
“Emi (Buendía) had a slight injury so we didn’t risk him in the game against Salernitana, but he’s available, he’s trained all week."
