Unai Emery's brutally honest assessment, Tottenham warning and limitless Aston Villa star
Unai Emery sat down with the media at Bodymoor Heath ahead of Aston Villa's Premier League clash with Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Sunday (2pm).
Villa are targeting their fifth league win in six games against the newly-promoted Tractor Boys, who are without a win so far this season, but are unbeaten in their last three in the league. Here's every word Emery said in his pre-match press conference...
How are Mings and Kamara getting on?
"They are training very well They started to be 100 per cent completely training with us last week. The plan with them is to try and start playing with under-21s next week for 45 minutes. After the break they will be available if everything goes well."
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Semi-automated VAR has been delayed, what are your thoughts on that?
"The technology is always welcome and with VAR they are trying to improve it. I believe in VAR and with everything they are trying to add, increasing and being better."
You were critical of your team last week - what needs to improve?
"Every match we are playing has been a different plan. The game plan is to adapt and impose our game plan. Ipswich is different and difficult, like the matches we are playing. We are trying to build a team and get stronger tactically with players. Some are in the process.
"We want to increase our level individually and collectively and it is being positive because we are getting points in this way. But of course we have to improve a lot of things.
"The match against Wolves was very good to analyse deeply. Sometimes we are winning but we are needing to change something to get the result we want."
How close to Duran to starting?
"He is involving and focusing like I want and he is playing with strong impact. Playing like he did on Tuesday, he played fantastic for 90 mins in the Carabao Cup match.
"My challenge is to get best of him as a striker, playing with Watkins as well. The idea is to play more together. We will get performances individually and collectively with both players."
How much will the next three games test your squad?
"Thinking only the next match is Ipswich. I can repeat from the beginning of pre-season how important every match is because the last two years, we got the Europa Conference League after being one point difference to Brentford. Then it was two points different with Tottenham and we are playing for these points every match.
"At the end of the season, we don't want to remind ourselves of some moments where we weren't focused for some points. Only [we are thinking about] Ipswich Town and focusing a lot. Not thinking about the next match or next week."
What do you expect from Ipswich?
"They are playing really well. Not getting points like they deserve, but they are competitive and they play very well. They played well against Liverpool and Fulham.
"I expect them to play very well on Sunday and we have to compete to adapt to them. They are aggressive in high press, aggressive in duels. The have very good structure to play in combinations with the players they have. The goalkeeper is playing very well and we have to respect them.
"The coach is doing amazing in his work. Tactically they are showing a very good structure. I am analysing deeply their structure for Sunday."
What have you done to flip the narrative around Duran?
"He's a good guy. He is young, he is impatient sometimes because he wants everything so quick. Now he is focusing 100 per cent same as me. He is following our idea and my plan with him. We started working together almost two years ago in the January.
"The progress and responsibility I have with him is a huge responsibility because I believe in him. But, of course, sometimes going up sometimes down.
"Sometimes he's strong, sometimes he's not playing every minute he is expecting. Now, I think this is his best moment, his commitment and behaviour. He is following everything tactically which I want from him.
"He is working every day like other players. The most important thing is for him to be in the squad and then his quality and potential ... I can't tell you now how much potential he has. It is not fixed. Hopefully we can get of him his potential here."