Unai Emery urged that “we can’t stop” as Aston Villa chase one of the five places to qualify for next season’s Champions League. The Villans are vying for one of three places in a pack of five clubs and are about to clash with one of the teams that hold onto a desirable position. Man City might be fallen champions, but the pride of a place with the best in Europe means Emery’s men must expect a battle.
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‘My respect for them is massive as always’
Emery earned a massive result on the weekend in front of their home fans. His team trounced high-flying Newcastle United with three goals in eleven minutes to beat the Magpies 4-1 at Villa Park.
The squad still sit in the seventh spot in the table, but they are only a point behind the Citizens, who hold the coveted fifth and final place to reach the Champions League. This contest is the definition of a six pointer and plays a pivotal part in the tightening race for elite European football next season.
Villa might have won five league matches in a row, but there is no room to relax in the camp. They face a team that are far from their typical standards but still deserving of respect as a direct rival.
“We can’t stop. We’re involved in our key moment in the season. Through the Premier League, we are trying to get our first objective in 38 matches. Tomorrow is matchday 34 against Manchester City, one of the teams contending to be in the top four or top five. They want to win the title, but this year has been more difficult for them. But my respect for them is massive like as always. We are ready.”
Emery is also grateful to have a stacked squad for the final few weeks of the season. Leon Bailey has been out with a hamstring injury, but he has recently returned to training while Ross Barkley earned a few minutes at Villa Park against PSG last week. If those two are available, all of his options are fit.
“Every player and every worker here in Aston Villa are so focused in the moment we’re in. Tomorrow we will prepare the match as well as possible, and the players will all be available for tomorrow.”
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‘I’m so happy with how he’s performing’
One of the key figures for the success of the Villans has been Ollie Watkins. He had his highest scoring season in the league last year with a haul of 19 goals but has seen other players steal his spot as the striker. Jhon Duran was the ultimate super sub in the first half of the season and made four starts in a row in December while Man United winter window loanee Marcus Rashford earned his role upfront to start both legs of the Champions quarter-final against PSG earlier this month.
Yet, he has still equalled his tally of 15 goals from the 2022/23 campaign in 800 fewer minutes and it might still be his most productive season in front of goal in a five year top flight career. The striker hit the back of the net against Southampton off the bench as well as Newcastle Unitedin his last league start on the weekend and he will want to extend his scoring streak against City. After all, his manager recognises that if individuals are meeting their targets for the year, then the whole team stands to gain.
“Individual objectives are so, so important for players. Through it, we can get collective objectives.”
While the choice of other players in his position might suggest otherwise, Emery is very happy with the work rate of Watkins as well as his scoring record, never falling below double digits for the club.
“I am so happy with how he’s performing and progressing here in Aston Villa under our management. His individual objective is very important for him, for the club and for our process and our progress.”
