Every word Unai Emery said about injuries, FA Cup dreams and possible Cardiff City shock
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery spoke to the media ahead of the FA Cup fifth round clash against Cardiff City on Friday night.
In all competitions, Villa are unbeaten in their last 15 home games against Cardiff, who last Villa Park win came back in December 1954. Here is every word Emery said in his pre-match press conference...
What is the latest on the team news?
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“We will train this afternoon and we will watch on the field how the players are, without risk and pain to be available for tomorrow,” Emery explained.
“Pau Torres is still injured. Matty Cash is close, but we will see. Mings is a doubt. Martinez is a doubt. Barkley not for tomorrow. Onana and Kamara are close to coming back. Malen is sick, but hopefully he can recover for tomorrow.”
How important is the FA Cup for Villa this season?
“It’s a way for a trophy and it’s a way for Europe. The winner is playing next year in the Europa League.
“We have three ways [to get into Europe]: Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup. We are not contenders in FA Cup to win this trophy.
“To try to compete in this competition and to have a way for a trophy is very important. And then prestige. Every player, the club, the coaches – everybody would like one way trying to get prestige as well.”
How do you rate your side's performance in this competition so far?
“We are being consistent in this competition this year. At home against West Ham and Tottenham we played a great two matches and we won.
“Tomorrow is another opportunity to keep being consistent. Our demands are in different ways, individually and collectively, to get confidence, get comfortable, try to transmit to our supporters our wishes in this competition.
“We are not contenders, but in case we can continue in this competition we are going to be closer to competing for something important.”
How difficult is it to balance each competition?
“We’re focusing on every competition, focusing on each match and how the players are recovering after playing a lot of minutes. We’re looking at how we can adapt the new players in our structure.
“Our focus every day is to prepare for each match and how we can create and build again our structure tactically, trying to get comfortable with the players in their position in our structure.
“This is the task we have now. We’re playing matches, but hopefully we can play a lot of matches this season and next year as well.”
How important is it to respect Cardiff despite their position in the Championship?
“Firstly, we have respect for the competition. Secondly, we respect every team that is competing in this round.
“Of course, Cardiff is a Championship team, but we have our own experiences two years ago with Stevenage for example. We weren’t being successful last year and two years ago.
“We are playing at home in Villa Park and we have to feel strong. To be consistent is our challenge.
“Through the respect of the competition and the opposing teams, we will start being consistent and then building our team again with our new players and some tactical changes to help our players feel comfortable in our structure – that’s the first objective I have.
“Through it, we can play better and be consistent. Tomorrow, this is our challenge, individually and collectively, in this competition, the FA Cup, respecting the opponent and trying to build our structure as strong as possible with the opportunity we have tomorrow.”
