Aston Villa manager Unai Emery spoke to the press ahead of the Premier League clash against Newcastle United
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
Unai Emery sat down with the media at Bodymoor Heath ahead of Aston Villa's Premier League opener against Newcastle United.
Villa kick-off their new campaign at 12:30pm at home on Saturday. Here's every word Emery said in his pre-match press conference...
How do you feel about the new season?
“We are excited and hopefully tomorrow we will show it in Villa Park. I like to start playing with our supporters, and with the atmosphere we were creating when we were winning at Villa Park was fantastic.
“I think tomorrow will be the same. Newcastle – what a game to enjoy, to prepare, to play, and to try to do our best.”
What is the latest on Jacob Ramsey?
"We are playing three matches with the transfer window working. And of course things can change, not just for us, but for other teams.
"Jacob Ramsey is not with us today, and if he is leaving we are going to continue our work.
"I was very happy working with him, but now I am focusing on the players we have available for tomorrow, and keep going."
How competitive will it be this season?
“We are starting similarly like last year and we are not a contender for the top seven. We have the capacity to build a strong team, maybe not with the same budget, but we are being competitive and this is the same idea I have now.
“We have to be competitive with our players and with our players, working hard, being motivated and excited. We are starting tomorrow and until day 38, this is the most important competition we face this year. Hopefully we can show our capacity to fight.”
Is Morgan Rogers fit?
“Yes. Tomorrow, they are not available: Emiliano Martínez, suspended, Andrés García is injured, and Ross Barkley is not match fit.”
What do you expect from Newcastle?
“It will be very difficult. They have a very good structure tactically and are strong with individual players. Collectively, they are such a strong team offensively and defensively to get a lot of duels.
“Our experiences playing against them in three years, winning and losing, hopefully tomorrow at home we can add our supporters pushing us.
“We have to be intelligent, we have to try to adapt to them tactically and try to win duels. Last year, we finished with 66 points and they finished with 66 points in 38 matches.
“We’re starting again now. They’re in the Champions League and we are in the Europa League because the goal difference was so tight. Conceding and scoring is the difference, and they did it.
“Hopefully we can start again, competing against them, showing our power and capacity with our performance in our tactical ideas and individual skills.”
Is winning a trophy a key objective?
“When I arrived here my objective was – and still is – to win a trophy. If we are playing in Europe we have one more option.
“For that reason, playing in Europe is very important because we can have another way to compete, to get a trophy, to be a contender, and play more matches. I’m always thinking that by playing matches against very good teams, you can improve more and gain more prestige.
“I’m starting with the same objective. Four competitions: Premier League is the first one, Europa League is the second one, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
“In those competitions, we have to try to do our best. To win a trophy is the next step forward I want to do after playing in Europe. I can’t refuse that the overall objective I have is to play again in Europe, even in front of one trophy. We can share both and try to get both, but next year I want to play again in Europe.”
How was pre-season?
“We did a fantastic pre-season. There were different steps we did. The first two weeks, we were working with a lot of young players from the Academy.
“Then we went to the United States and played three matches there at different levels, adapting to the players that were with us after their summers playing with their national teams.
“The last step we did last week, playing three matches with different players, trying to get our best fit for the players and to continue building the team for the starting XI for tomorrow.
“We were building the team for the whole season, and tomorrow is the focus. Newcastle with the best players we can play with tomorrow are focused 100 per cent for this match.”
Are you frustrated about the rules holding Villa back?
“I am not frustrated - I accept the rules and how we are competing, also how we are being ambitious to compete with the better teams in the Premier League and in Europe.
“We have to be proud of everything we are doing. Everything we have done is done. We are starting again. We are trying to get the target we have. I am motivated and excited, not frustrated. I accept it [the rules].
“We have to build our emotions together with our supporters. Sometimes I can be frustrated, but my frustration lasts only for a few hours.”
Do you want to sign Asensio again?
"The transfer window finishes for every team on September 1 at 7pm - I know the time as well! We have to be alert in case we can add players, to bring them and help us increase the level and capacity in the squad.
"We have to mix the rules of UEFA and the capacity and possibility we can have to bring in good players to add to the squad."
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