Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery (Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery sat down with the media after his side's 0-0 draw with Juventus at Villa Park.
Morgan Rogers thought he had won the game for Villa in second half added time, but Diego Carlos was harshly adjudged to have fouled Juve 'keeper Michele Di Gregorio before Rogers turned in. Here is every word Emery said in his post-match press conference...
Should the goal have stood?
"Everyone will know in England the interpretation is different. In England, the referee would say no foul, clearly no foul. In Europe the interpretation is different. They have to be working to get the same decision when some action like that is coming. I don’t know why, but we knew before the interpretation of referees in England is different for actions like that. When the action happened I was thinking that in Europe it’s a foul. In England no, but in Europe I have to accept it."
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Do you have another player who can replicate Kamara's qualities?
"He’s very important. He has come back. He goes as a six number. He’s giving us a lot of balance, he progressed a lot last year before his injury, playing and with confidence in the build-up. He is helping us in this direction. He has a big potential to continue exploiting."
Do you know if the referee changed his mind or if it was a VAR decision?
"This is the rule. At the beginning I was thinking he gave us the goal, but when he changed I was thinking it was strange but in cases like that it’s confusing because he has to wait for the VAR."
Was a draw a fair result?
"Most important thing today was to try to understand this competition overall. We were playing against a favourite to be in the top eight and usually a contender to win this competition. We are one team for a long time who didn’t play in Europe and the Champions League and this year is very important.
"We wanted to play competitive and we are in the right way. Today to get one point is very good, we wanted to win but wanted to avoid some mistakes we made in previous games. We have 10 points and we’re happy. Our save from the goalkeeper was very important.
"It was a very tactical match but we were more or less thinking everything happened in 90 minutes was in our plan. I think this result is fair for both team and I’m really happy."
You played Morgan Rogers off the left instead of next to Ollie Watkins, where John McGinn played instead - what was the thinking behind that?
"McGinn is coming back. His performances are getting better and he has to help us playing left side or a number 10 or right side. When he’s in good for and he's fit he’s very key. Today he played a good match for 90 minutes, playing seriously, he played giving us position and Morgan can play in both situations as well.
"Those players with versatility have to be always trying to be in both positions. With Ramsey injured, with those two players and adding Buendia, they are more or less in my mind to play in those positions."
You've only conceded one goal in five Champions League matches...
"In the Champions League we are being competitive and reaching our target very quick. If we can fight for top eight we will do it. This point isn’t the best but it’s very important but we got 10 points and I think that’s very good for this competition we will try to be ambitious to compete for the top eight in the next three matches."
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