Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been talking to the media earlier than Tuesday’s Champions League recreation towards RB Leipzig (kick-off 20:00 GMT).
Listed below are the important thing strains from his information convention:
Emery confirmed that Leon Bailey has “a small harm” and won’t be out there for Tuesday evening however they’ll “wait and see” for Saturday’s recreation.
On their Champions League marketing campaign thus far: “We’re very motivated and we’re having fun with it. Tomorrow is matchday six and it is extremely essential as a result of roughly we really feel near the following spherical however we now have a chance to be within the high eight and tomorrow is that match. It should be very tough.”
He stated Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran are each “excellent strikers” however with “totally different experiences”. He added: “Subsequent problem is to play with each. We are attempting and I’ll attempt once more. We’ve got to maintain stability taking part in with each and that’s the subsequent problem. First comes the crew, however tomorrow is a vital match.”
On the expectations on this recreation being much like the match towards Brugge: “At the start, expectation was to attempt to get pleasure from it. Use expertise from final yr in one other degree this yr. We’re doing it fantastically. Even towards Brugge, it was excellent to be taught. Tomorrow it’s a new check. To be constant as a crew is our problem.”
Emery praised Boubacar Kamara as a “crucial” participant for the “stability” he provides the crew: “Tactically he’s very clever and has capability to play when we have to maintain ball possession, cowl, attacking and the transition. He’s one participant we now have to proceed the method with. Once we arrive two years in the past, the method was improbable earlier than his harm. He has now began taking part in with a greater degree than earlier than harm.”
On the significance of left-back Lucas Digne: “He’s a participant like each coach would need. He’s mature, very accountable. He desires to enhance every single day and to be taught. Even when taking part in matches he desires to coach extra. Even after worldwide breaks when we now have two days off he solely has sooner or later off and comes and joins in coaching.”
He added: “On the sphere he’s giving us lots of moments of self-discipline. His mentality is improbable and he desires increasingly more. He’s an instance for younger gamers. How he’s on a regular basis attempting to coach, bettering, studying, listening, and being humble. Humble along with his experiences. When he arrived right here his profession was possibly happening however he reacted very properly to our calls for and he’s actually doing improbable.”