Every word Unai Emery said about winning the Champions League, injuries, Duran, Watkins & Monaco
Unai Emery sat down with the media at the Stade Louis II on Monday night ahead of Aston Villa’s penultimate Champions League league phase clash against AS Monaco.
A win for Villa would put them in a brilliant position to go on and qualify automatically for the round of 16. Here is every word Emery said in his pre-match press conference…
If you finish in the top eight, what would that say about the club’s progress under you?
READ MORE: Breaking: Aston Villa complete second January transfer as defender signs on
“I think we are very motivated playing in the Champions League because the club didn’t play in it for a long time. Europe is always something special as well and I am always transmitting that to the players, trying to feel it with everybody this year and last year. We want to compete, to compete trying to be a protagonist in this competition. We have a very huge opportunity arriving here to play day seven with 13 points.
READ | The truth behind £57m Jhon Duran bid as Aston Villa transfer stance revealed
“I think we need three or four more points to get the top eight. Our target is to be in the top eight and tomorrow is the key. Firstly because Monaco has an opportunity if they are beating us to get 16 points and maybe they could be in the top eight as well.
“Our opportunity and our objective is not to get 16 – we will try to get 19 points because with that we will be there for sure. How we are playing this competition is the most important thing, trying to enjoy each moment; trying to focus on each match; trying to show our capacity and how we can face the best teams in the world.
“Monaco is experienced in Europe. Last year they were second in the French league, this year they are fourth. They have very good players and for all Aston Villa supporters, it’s a game to share together our feelings for this competition.”
How important is it to finish in the top eight and also how difficult will Monaco be?
"Very difficult. We won Bayern at home and Leipzig away and lost to Brugge. That is this competition. Every team is difficult. They have a very good structure with their coach. Their players have potential. To get the top eight is important because we will have less matches, but even if we play them then it is an opportunity to continue building a team. The Champions League is against the best teams in the world and tomorrow we are playing an experienced French club."
Is there an update on Onana and is McGinn fit?
“We have some players out, but the players are more or less available for tomorrow after we played two matches in a few days. The players are excited and motivated. We are trying to rest well, to have good food. Tomorrow we’re going to play in the evening and we can prepare the match in our meetings. We’re going to be ready 100% with the players we have for tomorrow to compete and to show our capacity and possibilities to get the three points.”
How crucial is Tielemans for your team?
“When I met him in his home, our conversation was very important to know him firstly as a man; how he lives his life every day, thinking football. His ambition as well to try to keep being important in his career as a player and joining a club being as ambitious as him. He is showing it. He’s always ready to play, he’s always focussing each match and competing in his thoughts 100% to improve and help the team to follow our message.
“For us, last year was the adaptation for him to us and he had some moments playing in different positions. I think last year was very important in how he adapted to us and how he was understanding how we wanted to build the team with him. This year, he’s playing consistently, again in different positions because he is a versatile player. His best quality is his mind and his mentality.”
How important is Martinez?
"Martinez, for me, and for us is very important in everything. He is very ambitious. His commitment with Aston Villa is huge. He is always working hard and he is achieving huge individual objectives. He always wants to continue improving and is working every day to focus. He has shown his progress at Aston Villa. His mentality is transmitting the message to the dressing room. Also, we can travel to New Zealand and there will be people there waiting for him. We can travel to Toronto and they will be waiting in the hotel. He is a recognised player and man for us in the world. For us he is very important."
When will you be able to start Duran and Watkins?
"It is my challenge to get the best from them, individually and then collectively. It means maybe playing them together. We have to work it tactically because to play with two strikers, properly two strikers, they are not with the same task, because they have to try to help the team as well, its structure and defensively.
"I tried it before and sometimes it was successful. After one month more or less Duran was out of the team, we were recovering the work we did before. We are going to watch those players together. At the moment I think starting this season progressively we were showing the capacity we have to play with both, giving them and helping the team like it did. Hopefully we can get off them their best performances from here until the end of the season."
Can you be contenders to win the Champions League if you finish in the top eight?
"We have to try to focus on each moment. We have the opportunity to be in the top eight but it will be very difficult. To speak more than the next round, I don’t want to do. Football changes in a few seconds. We have to try to be strong in our mentality but only looking at a short time: a short time is tomorrow. I’m very motivated. I’m trying to send a message to the players, to be demanding."
What are you expecting from Monaco?
“Monaco is a team with very good experiences in Europe. They’re a historic club in Europe and they’re being successful in France, finishing second last year. They always have very young players with huge potential and they’re always being very clinical signing players with this potential and selling them to Europe but always being competitive.
“I respect them a lot. I played here two times with PSG and they won the league in front of us. I know the capacity they have to be competitive and to play being successful. Tomorrow in 90 minutes we’re going to respect them in this direction. I played against Monaco for titles, in the Super Cup or for the league, and they have the habits to play at this level. For us, it’s a challenge to show how we can be, taking good balance in Europe and feeling comfortable playing against Monaco in the level they have.”
