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Aston Villa's 'first step' to ending long wait as Unai Emery searches for solutions
Aston Villa are yet to concede a goal from open play in the Champions League this season and despite keeping four clean sheets in five matches in the competition, they've conceded in all but one of their last 17 Premier League matches.
Emi Martinez - who was nominated for The Best Goalkeeper 2024 by FIFA this week - made two outstanding saves in the home matches against Bayern and Juventus, but will be pulling his hair out each time he passes up on an opportunity to draw closer to Mark Bosnich's Premier League clean sheet record for the club.
Villa manager Emery knows his side must tighten up to remain competitive with the top clubs in the division and explained that a clean sheet is the first step to winning. Without a victory in over a month, Villa face Chelsea on Sunday and Emery was asked why his side's defensive record in Europe is so much better than in the league.
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"I don't know exactly, we are trying to get consistency from our performances," he responded. "We are trying to be stronger in all the matches we are playing. One of the reasons I try to separate different competitions - of course the team is the same, the players are the same - but the competition is telling us we have to get a different plan.
"Because it is not the same - playing 38 matches, getting points - and you only find where you end up on the last day of the season. Playing in Europe is different. After each match you are trying to be in the top eight or at least the top 24.
"The Premier League is a little bit different but we want to play in the same style. We want to create a structure which is equally strong but we are not getting the same results in both competitions. Of course a clean sheet is always very important.
"So we must continue trying to find solutions, trying to improve, individually and collectively. The mentality is the same, we try to be focussed against every team we are facing and compete against every team.
"On Wednesday we were competing against Juventus who are at the highest level in Europe. On Sunday we are playing Chelsea who are in the Conference League - but they are at a high level as well.
"This is the difference between English football and leagues in other countries. In England there are seven, eight maybe even 10 teams who can play at a high level in the Champions League.
"But only four teams can qualify. This is our challenge. We are going to face a strong Chelsea and trying to get a clean sheet is the first step towards winning."
Emery added: "We are trying to always have the same personality. But it's not the same when you're playing different teams. Sometimes you can impose your game and dominate more than your opponent - sometimes you can't.
"This is always the challenge. How can we dominate, how can we impose our game plan, our individual skills, our duels - individually and collectively - each opponent poses different questions.
"Juventus were a very good test. We were testing our level against this team and on Sunday it's the same. It's the same level of opposition - just a different competition.
"Chelsea is now a contender for the top four and they are really strong, feeling comfortable and playing with confidence. They have really good players and they are playing really well and being successful, more or less.
"How will we compete against them - can we dominate the match or not? Can we defend well, not concede chances, scoring or creating scoring chances ourselves.
"This is the challenge we have. It's a different competition, a different match but we need to get close to them and the level they are at."
