Dean Smith spoke to the media on Friday morning ahead of Aston Villa’s Premier League encounter against Everton at Goodison Park.
Villa’s head coach, speaking via virtual press conference, discussed plenty of topics prior to Saturday’s clash (ko 8pm), including the social media boycott, Wesley’s comeback, the remaining six matches, the overriding emotions of this season, facing the Toffees as well as the latest team news and an update on Jack Grealish.
Here’s what he had to say…
On the social media boycott…
“I think it’s a good unified approach from the football authorities, I think everybody has got on board and that’s the way we have to put pressure on these companies, these social media companies to stop abuse language being posted, seen or sent.
“I think being unified and having this approach is the best way to make them take notice.
“The players are very supportive of it, very happy that it’s being done.
“As I mentioned many times before, the first game of Project Restart, ourselves and Sheffield United were the first teams to take the knee and that message has gone down very well and will continue to do so.”
On Wesley’s comeback…
“It’s been great to see him over the last week or two looking like an Aston Villa player again rather than a recovering injured player.
“I’ve said before, he’s had probably one of the most significant injuries I’ve seen in a professional footballer.
“So the strength of character to come back from that, the personality, especially during a pandemic, when we can’t arrange the number of games you’d normally get for somebody to come back, has just shown his strength of character.
“He’s a really likeable player around the place and for him to come on and almost score the winner, he had a header in the last minute, just gives him and the whole squad a boost.
“He’s not ready for a start, he’s only played 45 minutes of football, really; he’s played a couple of Under-23 games and we’ve been building him up gradually.
“I’d just seen a gradual improvement in him in training and felt he could be ready to do 15 minutes for us at the end of the game (against West Brom)."
On the remaining six matches…
“The players understand what’s there to play for, our results haven’t been probably what they were in the first half of the season, we understand that.
“And some of the performances certainly haven’t either.
“But there’s not been a drop-off in effort from the players, I can guarantee that.
“The game against West Bromwich Albion, I was pleased with the performance. That’s the most touches we’ve had in an opposition box since we get promoted, which just tells you that we were a very offensive-thinking team that day.
“Unfortunately, a couple of personal errors cost us the win.”
On Jack Grealish and team news…
“Jack’s scan came back positive so we’ve gradually started to load him this week, he won’t be available this week.
“But the loading process has started, which we’re all a little bit tentative, obviously, because of what happened last time. So there’s a softly, softly approach with him.
“Morgan Sanson is still out as well with a knee injury, I don’t expect that to be too long.
“And, obviously, Trezeguet has got the long-term injury.
“Matty Cash is back after suspension after his two silly yellow cards.”
On the overriding emotions of this season?
“I think there’s a bit of both (delight and frustration).
“Delighted with how we’ve played at times this season, the progression we’re making as a football club.
“But also frustration that when a few of our key players come out, we haven’t managed to sustain the results.
“Defensively I think we’ve been great all season, I just feel we’ve dropped off offensively and that’s something we obviously need to improve upon.”
Looking at a league finish, Smith added: “I think, for me, it’s obviously top-10. It’s something we were aiming to do anyway, we weren’t satisfied with finishing 17th last season.
“There had to be progress shown this season and there has been.
“After a really good first half of the season, our results haven’t been anywhere near as consistent and we want to finish the season well, and we usually do.”
On Everton…
“It’s going to be a tough game, I think they’ve got a very good squad, a squad that we’re trying to build towards as well.
“But we’ve already proven this season that, on our day, we can beat anybody and we’ll be looking to try and do that.”
