Unai Emery spoke to the media on Wednesday afternoon ahead of Aston Villa v HŠK Zrinjski in the Europa Conference League.
The club’s head coach spoke about the need for a response following a defeat on matchday one, nights under the lights at Villa Park and much more.
Here’s what he had to say…
On bouncing back after defeat to Legia Warszawa…
“We must win tomorrow. The first match we played and we lost, now the points are more important because we lost the first opportunity to get three points.
“We have to fight tomorrow, we have to fight AZ Alkmaar, we have to fight against Legia Warszawa again and we will need the points. Tomorrow, the three points we are going to face is an opportunity.
“It’s not about thinking to play under pressure, it’s about needing to play well, to play with personality, to try to impose our idea and get those three points.
“Those are the demands we have of ourselves.”
On the demands of European football…
“I don’t think it’s a problem to play on Wednesday or Tuesday or Thursday and then on Sunday. We, the coaches, are always demanding two players for each position.
“We are always trying to manage the squad, playing different matches and getting the quality of performance with different players. If we need to play with the same players on Thursday and on Sunday, they will be ready and they will be available to do it.
“If not, we have to try to manage different players and get minutes for them, being intelligent and to be demanding of each one for the performance we have to get.
“It’s more work for them and more work for me, preparing each match, travelling, trying to be focused and get full energy for each match. But I want to play tomorrow, I want to play on Sunday and I have to be clever with the players, with the same or different players, to get the performance we have to.”
On playing European games at Villa Park…
“For me it’s about trying to write a new history here. The players and coaches have our experiences, but we want to write again and do a new history here.
“And playing in Europe, the difficulty is every team is very excited in Europe, and to play against Premier League teams is a challenge. Each challenge they are facing trying to take their opportunity.
“We have to try to be strong at home, play with our supporters at home pushing us. We have to try to play knowing and respecting the opponent.
“Tomorrow is a new challenge here at home after our first match in Warsaw. We are really excited and really focused trying to get a good performance at home.”
On Ollie Watkins…
“I am very happy with him, and his commitment to the club is really great. He is being always ready to learn. He is still humble to work hard and get better, always.
“When he’s scoring, it’s very good for the team. But when he’s not scoring, he’s always working well and doing his work like we are demanding of him.
“He’s closer to going with the national team I think because he’s started the season very good. Even when he didn’t score in other matches, he was working very well.”
