Every word Unai Emery said about Watkins' future, transfer distractions and injuries
Unai Emery sat down with the media at Bodymoor Heath ahead of Aston Villa's Premier League clash against Wolves on Saturday.
Full focus from Emery will be on the trip to Molineux, but Villa have business to complete before Monday night. Here is every word Emery said in his press conference...
Unai, what is the latest on Cash and Mings?
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"We will train this afternoon, but Matty Cash is not available. He is going to be out for three or four weeks. Mings has a small injury, but I think he will need some days more to be ready to play."
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How difficult is it to balance the fixture schedule?
“I don’t think how we are playing matches in a row with the demands we have, I don’t think it should be an excuse, because if we want to increase our level, if we want to fight or to compete in the level we are now, we have to accept, we have to adapt.
“Of course, as a coach, I had in my career, different moments when I had time to prepare with five days [for] one match, and of course sometimes I miss it, because [it] is the best way to prepare and to compete [for] one match in all leagues in different countries, or even in different levels as well.
“But, for a long time, I am playing in Europe, and I know how we can prepare each match as well as possible.
“Firstly, is resting, good food, and secondly, preparing matches with small work on the field and through meetings. Now, we are more or less the same way.
“Of course, we can add more risk for some players to be injured, but even not playing matches in a row, training, you can get injured, [that] can happen playing matches in a row.
“The idea to accept, to adapt, to be intelligent. To have as well, strong players, more or less consistent playing, to have as well, sub players, ready to play in the level we have as well, that we want to achieve.
“Tomorrow, I am not thinking to rest with the players maybe because they are tired, I am thinking to choose the best players we have, and resting, having good food, preparing the game tomorrow, respecting them, and playing 90 minutes at 100%.”
Has the transfer window had an affect in recent weeks?
“It affects, of course. Why? Because we are moving the squad, and it affects, but we are being competitive and we are being demanding as well of ourselves, how we can improve, how we can get better in the squad with the players we have, or we can add.
“The response from the players on Wednesday was fantastic. The response of the players in Everton and in Arsenal, the last two matches we played away in the Premier League, was fantastic.
“The commitment of the players, every day and every match we are playing, with the players we have now, is brilliant.
“Of course, we are changing something in the squad because we will need to improve, in everything.
“Of course, performing individually and collectively better, the commitment being higher. And this is the strong structure, we are planning to improve and to increase in the club, in everything.
“With the players we have, and they are playing and they are training and they are as well showing their commitment, their skills, it has been fantastic.
“Tomorrow, the same, and of course, we have to be ready. This is very important, the training we are going to do this afternoon, how we are going to meet this afternoon, how we are going to meet as well tomorrow morning in the hotel, the last hours before the match, it will be very important.”
What challenge do you face tomorrow?
“Tomorrow the challenge is to compete. Respecting them, to adapt as well, how we have to face them with their tactical idea, with their game plan, with their individual skills. And of course, we have to try to dominate with our idea.
“But to compete, to be focused, to be demanding, they are values always we are trying to set in each match. Tomorrow, we have players to be ready and waiting [for the] opportunity to play.”
Will you keep Watkins in the final days of the window?
"The commitment of Watkins is really a huge commitment to defend Aston Villa," Emery explained. "He appreciates how Aston Villa was always supporting him and helping him. Also, when we joined two years ago, how we always tried to get the best of him.
"Now we need him, like he needed Aston Villa in the last years. The conversation we are having usually is about how he is always adapting to every circumstance.
"When some teams are calling us being interested in the players, it is good for us and the players. Some players prefer to leave and some players accept to stay here and commit to Aston Villa and compete for our challenges. One of them is Ollie Watkins."
Has Watkins told you he is happy to stay?
"Yes, he is happy to stay. We asked him how he is feeling and he is happy here."
How is Ross Barkley?
"Barkley still has work to do individually before he joins us."
