Yahoo News Every word Unai Emery said after Aston Villa's 3-1 win, Watkins, Bailey and Chelsea preparation
Unai Emery sat down with the media after Aston Villa's 3-1 win over Bournemouth at Villa Park, which extends their cushion inside the top four to six points.
Dominic Solanke opened the scoring from the penalty spot, but Morgan Rogers levelled before the break. Ollie Watkins set up both of Villa's goals in the second period for Moussa Diaby and Leon Bailey. Here's every word Emery said in his post-match press conference...
What did you make of that, Unai?
"Good evening. A very good week, very good week. When we arrived here the supporters were waiting for us. They helped us, supported us. We transmitted their energy on the pitch as well. We shared with them our moment. The three points are very important to get the objective at the end of the season in the league. To be fifth or fourth. Now, we can be proud of our work and proud of how we are being consistent and trying to fight for fourth position with Tottenham. It will be difficult."
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Could be 9 points ahead if you beat Chelsea…
"Every match is very important. Here against Brentford we didn’t achieve three points and we were disappointed. We used that match to show the players why we didn’t achieve the consistency we have had at home.
"The reaction was fantastic in Arsenal and it was today too. Again, the players are showing us the commitment to continue being demanding and staying consistent at the end of the season."
How good was Ollie Watkins today?
"He played fantastic. His first objective is to win as a team and to help in everything we need tactically. In the end, when he scores it is fantastic. Even when he doesn’t score, he plays helping the team being brilliant."
You have been linked with the Bayern Munich job. Can you settle fan’s neves?
"I am focused here, 100 per cent."
What has the schedule been like since Thursday?
"Recovery with the players who added a lot of minutes in the game on Thursday. Yesterday we trained quiet. The preparation was more in the hotel. We met yesterday evening and today morning having our meeting with the players and doing videos too.
Do you plan to give the players some time off?
"We will now rest for two days. This week is only one match against Chelsea. It is very important and after the matches we have played, we need to rest for two days."
Leon Bailey - does he go under the radar?
"We appreciate him a lot here and he is doing a fantastic season with his goals and assists. He is playing with the commitment we needed to increase as well with him. Defensively, being demanding as well. I am very happy with him and that’s why we extended his contract. He deserved it."
Fatigue has been the talk of late, but is structure the most important thing?
“Of course, the motivation is very important. They can be a little bit tired but the most important thing is to recover and try to get the full energy again in our mind and in our body. When we are playing more or less being comfortable on the pitch, even when we are feeling a little bit tired, we can keep the consistency that we did.”
Morgan Rogers has adapted so quickly - can you describe what’s happening behind the scenes?
“We analysed him, his adaptation was easier because his qualities in our squad and structure tactically is really through him easier. He has the skills, he understands how we want to create our structure tactically offensively and defensively. He is showing his capacity, his adaptation is quick and he’s scoring goals like today. He played today imposing as well individually his duels a lot of times with the moment. He’s been fantastic.”
Do you think Ollie Watkins gets the same satisfaction from setting up goals than scoring them, as he’s the top assister in the PL?
“I think he’s adding more things tactically himself to feel comfortable playing as well, scoring goals, assisting and even without those circumstances playing for the team. He plays in the structure we have tactically and his commitment to do the work we always need has been fantastic – more than scoring goals and the assists.
“He’s increasing his level and showing us being very demanding in himself how he can increase the level in a lot of things, more than scoring goals. I think I appreciate him and his progress, I think other coaches and in the national team they are of course aware about him, how he’s increasing and how he’s been important for us and for the national team as well.
“As a player, he’s fantastic and he deserves it because he’s a really hard-worker every day. Always he wants to work more in the training session, he’s always very demanding, asking things to improve.”
Is there an update on Zaniolo’s injury?
“He has an injury but we have to wait how long it’s going to be. Hopefully, it’s not a lot."
