Yahoo News Leon Bailey, plastic pitches and the 'higher risk' worrying Unai Emery
Unai Emery sat down with the media at the Wankdorf Stadium ahead of Aston Villa’s first Champions League league phase clash against Young Boys.
Villa come into the match on the back of a 3-2 win over Everton in the Premier League; their first home win of the season having also claimed victory in both of their away games so far this term. Here’s every word Emery said in his pre-match press conference in Bern…
How do you feel ahead of the game?
"Now is our moment. I’m excited, I think it’s a good moment for the club to play in the Champions League after a long time, hopefully we can keep it for a long time, that’s our challenge. Our challenge was to get Europe and we got that last year now the challenge is to keep in Champions League. We know how difficult that is with seven or eight teams contending to get in the position in the table to get it.
BUY | Get your Aston Villa special pull-out ahead of Champions League adventure
READ | Aston Villa follow Man City plan to combat unique Champions League challenge
"We have to enjoy each match and we are very motivated and we can use our own experiences as coaches and we have played in three competitions and some players have played but the most important experiences for us is the one we had last year together. We want to create a new way together, the first message I can send to them is I want to be competitive.
"Be competitive like we are in the Premier League and the difficult to compete in the PL and similar in this competition because more or less the bet teams in the world are in the Champions League and the Premier League. We know how difficult Europe is. Last year we learnt a lot about playing away and how difficult it is. Tomorrow I played against some Swiss teams before and it’s really difficult. This is the message."
Can Villa fans dream in the Champions League?
"[We must] Compete and to face each match being competitive. How far we can go I don’t know but I’m not going to refuse any objective in this competition. We want to start being comfortable on the pitch and play more or less increasing our level.
"We started well in the Premier League but we have a lot of work to do tactically and individually, be competitive and try to impose our style and idea and game plan. The objective is to try and fix each match."
Do you like the new format?
"I prefer this one. I didn’t play before in this one. I think it needed to change and this one is going to be better because when we played with other teams it was missing something like now play more matches, play more matches during the process. We will play eight matches which is good and going to set everyone in the same table and it’s more fair and it’s even more attractive for the supporters."
Are you concerned about the pitch?
"We are going to adapt. We change a little bit our usual way we play in Europe is have a training session in Birmingham but we come to train here to know and to adapt for the synthetic pitch. We’re ready and we won’t use it as an excuse, we can play like we do at home."
Would you like to pay a tribute to Gary Shaw after his sad passing?
"My condolences to the family and all the supporters at Villa. We have a memory always, in our training ground a picture of 1982 and the European Cup. He was a protagonist of that. My condolences to them. Yes, I think it’s sad and we can use it as motivation."
You've made a strong start to the season...
"It is very difficult, we competed very well, we started really quick. It was the second match in the groups. We won 2-4 but it was very difficult. They are playing more or less similar, they have a lot of pace, good in transition and physically as well. I will prepare the match more or less with the experiences I had here and how difficult it was and I will remind the players of that moment."
Are you concerned about the number of matches being played?
"I'm trying to be intelligent and help the players as much as possible. We’re adding more players who have been in the international team and that’s a good example of how we’ve increased our level.
"They’re playing more matches and that’s a higher risk to get injured. Everything in my hands I try to use the players' intelligence and give them a break if they’re tired. One thing that is clear is that they’re playing a lot of matches.
'In this competition I think it’s better, this is the best competition in the world. The clubs in the Champions League are the best and we have to enjoy. It’s the biggest reward in every league to get in the Champions League, this competition is the best competition for everyone."
How is Leon Bailey?
"He is in the squad, we will train now and hopefully he will feel good and we’ll decide if he’s playing minutes or in the starting XI but it’s good news."
