Aston Villa boss has sent a warning about West Ham to his players ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery(Image: PA)
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Unai Emery has warned his Aston Villa players that they will come up against "fighters" in West Ham’s ranks on Sunday.
The Hammers host Villa sitting in 18th place, having won only three of their 15 league games this season and losing eight.
However, their home form has improved of late under Nuno Espirito Santo, with two wins from their last three matches at the London Stadium.
Following successive victories against Newcastle United and Burnley on home turf, Nuno’s side then fell to a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.
Emery is expecting a tough challenge against the Premier League strugglers on Sunday, given their improvement under Nuno and the fact they have lost only one of their last six league matches.
“Nuno is really a very good coach. And how (they) compete, their teams, in my experience, my experience with him is always so, so difficult. Tough matches, defensively, offensively,” Emery explained.
“They have a strong structure tactically. They are competitors, they are fighters like he is as a coach.
“If we are thinking more than the match on Sunday, for me, not make sense. Makes sense to try to set each match with our focus, and try to get our best. It’s difficult, because firstly, West Ham, now, they are feeling better. Much, much better.
“They are playing at home and they are feeling strong. They lost against Liverpool, but they beat Burnley and Newcastle, and were playing fantastic.
“The last two matches they played away, they drew, against Brighton, against Manchester United. It’s clear how they are performing and competing now, much, much better.
“For us, to keep our consistency is our challenge now, and through this consistency, we can get points.
“Of course, we got three points yesterday away in Basel and (it) gave us confidence as well, but on Sunday it’s going to be very difficult, and this is our new challenge.
“We are ready to rest firstly, to work on Saturday and to focus on Sunday, 100 per cent this match, for those three points.”
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