Unai Emery was a proud man after Aston Villa earned a 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.
The visitors were more than good value for their point on Merseyside and were only pegged back by Roberto Firmino’s 90th minute leveller.
A draw moves Villa into seventh place in the Premier League, and Emery was pleased to have their destiny in their own hands as they chase the final European place.
He said: “I’m very proud of our work given the challenge we had.
“Two months ago we were speaking about if we could get to the last match against Brighton at home playing for something important. Now it’s in our hands.
“Today this draw is amazing. In the first half we played in our game plan, being strong – not only defensively, offensively we were trying to build up and breaking their high press.
“We had a penalty, we scored one goal and progressively we were making more metres on the pitch. In the second half we needed to defend more than the first half but we were brilliant.
“They scored but I think it’s a very good point because it’s given us a possibility, in the last match with our supporters at home, enjoying and being very excited this week, for one European place.”
Jacob Ramsey’s first-half goal put Villa in control at Anfield and they rarely looked like surrendering the lead until the hosts’ late rally.
Emery is now fully focused on next weekend’s final game of the season at home to Brighton and Hove Albion at Villa Park.
“We have to remember our supporters as well because they are travelling away to every match that we are playing,” he said.
“The players are taking the demands I am trying to impose for everybody – for me, for the players, for the club.
“To play for a European place this week is a really important step ahead we are doing. Still, we have one week and we are going to enjoy it but practice as well as possible and be very focused.”
