Members of the local, national and international media were at Bodymoor Heath on Wednesday to hear from Unai Emery.
Aston Villa's head coach took questions from journalists ahead of the first leg of his side's Europa Conference League semi-final against Olympiacos.
Here's what he had to say...
On bringing success to Aston Villa…
“I don’t want to remember my past in Europe. Of course, I know it’s successful more than less, playing a lot of seasons in a row for a long time.
“I want to focus on each moment because the past is important for my experiences and my achievements but not for the future. The future is about whether we can create this success again if we can build something.
“It’s only practicing with the players we have and the club I am at that I can use my experiences to give in some moments with the players.
“It’s about creating a new way and trying to enjoy a new way. I know football is only about winning and I am here because I was more successful than less and because we were focusing in Europe always with the teams and players I had before.
“Now, with the players we have and the club as well, I feel we are wishing and willing to play focusing 100% because we appreciate Europe a lot.”
On the progress made this season…
“Being very positive at the beginning of the season, to be where we are now would have been the best way we were thinking to do.
“When you are progressively getting better, being successful, being consistent, learning quickly and being competitive, it’s not a surprise. The players responded very well.
“To keep it for a long time is very difficult. Now it’s the end of the season and we are clearly focusing on being a contender in those competitions to get our objective: to be fourth and to get to the final.
“My idea is to keep going even after it, to keep going in our development as a club.”
On the absence of Emi Martínez…
“Dibu Martínez is very important and he’s being very competitive and helping us a lot. With an issue like with the yellow cards and the small injury he has, we have to protect, help, support and push other players in the squad.
“Robin Olsen is being very competitive every day in every training session. When he’s played, he’s helped the team and the team believes in him and trusts in his performances.
“For example, on Saturday he played 45 minutes against Chelsea and he saved us. As a man, he’s humble and is a very appreciated man in the dressing room.
“Hopefully he can help us and feel comfortable.”
On facing Olympiacos coach José Luis Mendilibar…
“He’s a very successful coach in Spain. He started, more or less, as a coach like me. We were always playing in the championship in Spain and in La Liga.
“Always I respect him a lot because he’s very competitive, he’s a very passionate coach like me and he’s being successful. He deserves to have this opportunity in Europe like he had last year in Sevilla when he won the Europa League.
“I’m going to respect him a lot because I know the competitive way he is usually building with his teams.”
