Unai Emery takes his Aston Villa team to Everton in the Premier League on Sunday.
The club’s head coach will be looking to continue Villa’s fine form when they arrive at Goodison Park, and he previewed the game at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
Here’s what he had to say…
On the state of the squad…
“We are not being very focused in the transfer window because we are second in the table and we are recovering some players that have been out since the start of the season: Alex Moreno and Jacob Ramsey.
“I am very happy with the players, very happy. The commitment with the players is really good and the wish and desire to work hard is really good in everybody.
“We are going to face three competitions until the end of the season, Premier League, FA Cup and Europa Conference League, and it will be very difficult. We need players to be available and be ready with good performances to play in our idea and our style.
“We have the players here [to do that].”
On being demanding regardless of results…
“I am getting information from each match, knowing the things we have to improve and to work on. Individually, we have to be demanding with their performances.
“Every match we are playing, I am getting information about how we can improve – not only when we are winning. When we are winning or being successful, we are feeling comfortable and really happy.
“But when we are losing or we are not being successful, why? This information is very important for me and the players. That is the moment we can improve more and focus more.”
On playing Everton…
“They are progressively getting better and playing being very competitive. With their issue with the points [deduction], they are playing well and being very competitive in each match.
“It’s very difficult to beat them in their stadium with their fans. We respect them a lot. We have some injured players and they have some injured players as well.
“They’re going to be very competitive at home and we’re going to prepare the match respecting them a lot.”
On Everton’s style of play…
“They are team that when we analyse them and their data, they shoot a lot, they cross a lot and they get a lot of corners offensively.
“Sometimes they are playing in combinations, sometimes with long balls, winning second action and getting a lot of players in the opponent’s box. I’m expecting it.
“It will be difficult. We have to defend strongly, we have to control with our positioning on the pitch with our players and try to impose our style, idea and gameplan.
“We have to compete. Competing on Sunday means adapting to them. They are going to play pressing us a lot and demanding a lot from us defensively.”
