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Aston Villa's biggest problem is already being addressed after patchy form

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
-Credit: (Image: Getty Images)


Unai Emery admits Aston Villa must be "stronger in everything" from a defensive point of view after shipping 19 goals in 12 Premier League matches so far this season.

Despite leaking goals in the league, Villa have only conceded once in the Champions League through a freak goal at Club Brugge earlier this month. Tyrone Mings picked the ball up inside the box unaware that Emi Martinez had taken his goal kick before Han Vanaken converted the resulting penalty.

"We are working on it and you have to feel strong in our structure not only thinking defensively," Emery said in his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Juventus on Wednesday night. "We have to improve, we must be stronger in everything defensively starting with the ball and starting to dominate matches.

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"I’m confident because the team and players showed me and the supporters the capacity to respond and react quickly in some moments. We weren't as strong as we wanted. We have to create our ideal and style to feel comfortable and be strong with the ball and in our defensive shape without it."

Speaking of Villa's defensive issues, Torres added: "We know we have things to correct, to analyse that with the staff and we are doing that during the week. These results only make us work harder so that the good dynamic returns.

"It’s something we’re working on. We know all teams now how to attack with the spaces and we need to reduce those options for them. Try to control the forward players, try to not to lose the ball so much.

"Sometimes we are playing with a lot of spaces in our build up. We need to be alert to our good rest defending and try to correct this.

"For us inside the dressing room, we know we have work to do and things to correct and analyse with Unai and his staff. But this moment we’re living now only makes us work harder and we want that good dynamic to return."

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