Fixtures
- Aston Villa Vs. Chelsea – Wed, Feb 7th 2024, 20:00
Unai Emery faced the media on Tuesday afternoon to preview Aston Villa’s FA Cup fourth-round replay against Chelsea.
During the pre-match press conference, Aston Villa’s head coach discussed the prospect of the cup clash at Villa Park, opponents Chelsea, the latest team news, Leon Bailey and more.
Here’s what he had to say…
On the FA Cup tie at Villa Park…
“We are motivated and excited when we are playing here for everything – Carabao Cup, FA Cup, Europe and the Premier League.
“Tomorrow, to play at home with our supporters must be the best moment for Aston Villa supporters being together and trying to connect at Villa Park.
“In the FA Cup, supporters are travelling a lot, I think Chelsea are coming with a lot of supporters.
“We have to be strong at home with our supporters, we have to impose on the pitch and with the atmosphere as well around the stadium.
“We want to win, we want to impose our gameplan and our skills.
“But we’ll need the supporters, the players, our best performances, our best support in the stadium for our fans.
“Of course, we’ll play a match trying to be excited and trying to be motivated and trying to be with our fans behind us in 90 minutes, and even more if it goes to extra-time or a penalty shoot-out.”
On Chelsea…
“I expect a good Chelsea.
“We drew there but we struggled in the first half a lot, they were better than us.
“Progressively in the second half we were imposing our ideas, our gameplan, and we had chances as well to score and to win.
“But we didn’t deserve it. And they deserved more in the first half, it was a fantastic job by Emi Martínez, and defensively as well the team worked very well.
“Tomorrow, I expect the best Chelsea because they got to the Carabao Cup final. For them, this competition is very important as well because they are not in Europe.
“And they have a very good coach. They’re improving a lot, they lost the last two matches against Liverpool and Wolverhampton.
“Wolverhampton played very well, very competitive, every match is very difficult in the Premier League.
“But tomorrow, my expectation of them is the best performances, individually and collectively, and they’re going to be very focused, because for them it’s very important.
“We will respect them a lot and prepare for the match as much as possible.”
On Leon Bailey…
“The adaptation for some players is longer than others, how each individual player does is different.
“Leon came from the German league, the first year he didn’t play being consistent and as well he had some injuries.
“When I arrived here, I tried to set him as a second striker and take the best characteristics he can add in my idea to play.
“And he was still adapting as well when I arrived here. The adaptation is everything.”
Emery continued: “I spoke with him this year, when we started pre-season, about how we could improve different issues, different things he wasn’t showing us in a consistent way.
“And his reaction was fantastic.
“His commitment has improved, his focus, working harder every day, his way here adding for us his skills – scoring goals and assists.
“And we decided, more or less, one month ago, he deserved to extend his contract.
“But we have to be very demanding with players if they want to increase their level and demands like the team is doing.
“He is happy here, he is happy in Birmingham, he is happy at Aston Villa, he is working progressively getting better.
“His adaptation in the squad, in our idea, in our style, in the demands of the Premier League is increasing as well.
“And the idea is to extend his contact, we are so close, and I think he’s going to sign.”
