Yahoo News Pau Torres Q&A: Every word about Villa, Man City, Champions League, fitness and Emery
Pau Torres sat down with the media at Bodymoor Heath ahead of Aston Villa's Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg against Lille at Villa Park.
Unai Emery's side saw off Ajax in the round of 16 after topping Group E and will face either Olympiacos or Fenerbahce if they beat Lille across two legs. Here is every word Torres said in the press conference...
How important is this week for Villa?
"We are going game to game so we are very focused on tomorrow. We know the difficulty of the game. Europe is always difficult and we need to start well the first leg in our home with our supporters. We are really focused on tomorrow, we know it will be hard and we need a good start to go to France with an opportunity [to go through]."
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How has the squad adapted to playing in this schedule?
"We are busy and you need to recover quickly after the game. We have a really good team with players who can play in different positions and Unai is very, very experienced in this type of competition. He knows as well how to adapt every moment and every player in the games."
Arsenal have two days extra rest ahead of Sunday - does that bother the players?
"We can’t control that so we are only thinking in the games, first tomorrow against Lille and then we need to recover. We could recover some injured players like Lenglet or Cash. We need everybody in this month. We are waiting for them and we first want to think only about Lille, then the weekend."
What are you expecting from Lille?
"They are a really good team, they are fourth in their league. They have young players and experienced players with a good manager as well. They have a good idea of football. We are waiting for them at home and we need to be strong to keep our own idea during the game."
There’s lots of rotation at the moment - how difficult is it to miss out when you are fit?
"He knows better than us how to manage this. We work every day trying to play every game, but he knows how to manage it. At the end, the most important thing is the team and the result. He is the boss. I want to play always, but is normal and we always accept the decisions."
Are you fully fit now?
"I was injured for a month-and-a-half with my ankle. I am now feeling better and hopefully now until the end of the season I will be fit."
How much have you enjoyed your first season in England?
"Until this moment we are doing really good. We are improving the results of the last season so now we are in the most important part of the season. These games will be very important for us for this season and the next season."
How can your experience in Europe help your teammates?
"We have many players that played before in Europe, as well as Unai. He knows very good these competitions and how to approach the first and second legs. We try to help our teammates and everybody is really, really focused in these games."
Is defending crosses a concern at the moment?
"We know that we can’t relax in any moment because the other teams they have really good players. We need to be always 100 per cent. It is part of the game, but we need to improve and improve. We are working on it."
Is it difficult to play in different defensive partnerships?
"We have really good players and it doesn't matter who plays in each game. We have enough quality in defence to defend against different actions. We need to be focused and continue to improve."
Are you confident you can challenge for the top four and UECL?
"We have really good players and squad with enough players to play 100 per cent each game in each competition. We are working on it. This week is a hard week, a tough week but we need to go game to game and keep fighting."
What's better - top four or winning the UECL?
"For me both competitions are so, so important. After 26 years we have a quarter-final at home. We want to play all the game in front of them. It means that we will be in the semi-final. We are working on it. I think this month and a half is the most important and we need every player to be focused on it."
Jonathan David - what have you been told about him by Unai?
"He is the most important player of Lille. He has power, he has speed. He is a really good player, but we need to keep focused in every player they have. I like the centre-back Yoro. He’s a very good young player. We need to keep working as a team and control as much as we can their players."
How reassuring is it to have Unai and his record in Europe?
"He has so much experience in these competitions. He knows how to prepare every game and analyse the other teams. When the game has started, we know exactly how the opponents are going to play. I think this is a really good help for us."
Lille manager Paulo Fonseca said Villa were favourites to win the competition...
"For us it doesn’t matter, because for example yesterday in the Champions League. Both Arsenal and City played amazing games and drew. They were fantastic games. In these competitions, in quarter-finals, any team is the favourite. You need to play and work to show how your team prepared for the game."
