Unai Emery explained how his substitutes were "very important" as Aston Villa beat Southampton by three goals on the road. The guests gained control of possession from the start of the match but options off the bench broke the deadlock in a way that has not always been possible this season.
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‘This is really good momentum for us’
Emery expressed his happiness with the win: a fourth league victory in a row for the Villans.
“I want to enjoy the moment we have, and the matches that we are going to face with our supporters. Today, they were supporting us here, and really, it’s to be thankful for everybody helping us because the motivation we have through them, we can feel even more, and we can feel stronger in everything.”
He also emphasised the importance of the results in the Premier League for his outlook on the season. After Chelsea collapsed to draw with Ipswich Town, his men are only behind the fifth placed Blues on goal difference. In the race to return to the Champions League, every point is critical.
“Of course, playing tactically, being organised, playing individually with our skills, but as well, with emotions. This is really good momentum for us now, in (the) Premier League, because it’s the main target we have, to try to get through it again, our objective for next year.”
The Spaniard spoke highly about his substitutes on the afternoon. Ollie Watkins, Donyell Malen, and John McGinn all came off the bench to put their name on the score sheet. Having rotated eight of his players for this game, Emery acknowledged the strength of the squad has been key to recent success.
“[The substitutes] are very important. We didn’t achieve a lot of points at the beginning of the season, because we didn’t have enough players in the bench, because they were not fit, or they were injured.”
Marco Asensio, a loanee in the winter window, missed a pair of penalties, but he is one of the players whose impact has been big as an option in reserve. The manager mentioned how the incomings in January have helped the squad significantly get closer to their goals for the end of the campaign.
“They joined in the transfer window, four players, really helping and really increasing our competitive way, to get the points we are getting.”
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‘We have to transmit our energy’
Emery addressed next week’s small matter of the second leg against PSG in the quarter-final of the Champions League. His side sat deep and fought for their lives against one of the most fluid and free-flowing opponents across the continent. The team almost escaped with a single goal deficit, but Nuno Mendes made their lives much harder with a third goal in injury time at the Parc des Princes.
“Of course, we are going to enjoy on Tuesday in Villa Park something very special, something very special for our supporters, for us, the possibility, the opportunity we have to try and face PSG and try to come back with a result.”
The side set out to achieve the improbable in front of their fans and Emery implored the fans to come in force to play their part in what would be one of the most special nights in the history of the club.
“Of course, it’s going to be difficult, but we have to feel strong at home and try to prepare as best as possible the match and then try to transmit our energy to try and get the supporters’ energy and then play the best football. And if we play the best football, we can get.”
The targets for this team extend into a second cup competition closer to home. Crystal Palace await in the semi-final of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium in two weeks. The club last collected a major honour in 1996 with the League Cup, so the chance to be one step away from a trophy excites Emery.
“The FA Cup, of course, is a very special moment in the season and we have to be very demanding, very demanding; we have to be very focused and really enjoy working as much as possible analysing, trying to get the best out of the players and of course try to get the best energy we can have together.”
