Dean Smith held his pre-match press conference on Friday morning to preview Aston Villa’s Premier League match against Everton.
The Villa head coach spoke to the media from Bodymoor Heath via a virtual press conference and discussed a host of topics ahead of taking on the Toffees at Villa Park.
Here’s what he had to say…
On team news...
When asked about Emi Martinez and Emi Buendia, he said: “We’re expecting them to join us tomorrow morning. I’ll assess it then and see whether they’re involved or not.
“We’ve got the numbers of what they’ve been doing each day, that gets sent straight to our performance department and passed onto our coaches. They’re in a good place physically.”
Smith added: “Carney Chukwuemeka won’t make the team. He’s not trained all week, nor has Jaden Philogene-Bidace. They’re the only two who are out.”
On Jacob Ramsey’s development…
“I’ve spoken quite a few times about the Academy we’ve got in place here under the tutelage of Mark Harrison.
“I gave JJ his debut in the Championship, I think he was 17 at the time. We just felt that he had the potential to become a really top player.
“He’s had a loan spell at Doncaster and then we kept him with the first team squad last year. We just feel his maturation has come at a really good time for him.
“He looks strong, he looks athletic, he’s always been a talented footballer but he’s putting it altogether now on the biggest stage of all, the Premier League. We believe he can be a really top player for us.”
On Villa’s progression…
“When we got promoted, our remit was to stay up. Then we’ve progressed from 17th to 11th. The next step is the hardest because you have to pass established Premier League teams.
“Some of those teams have been top four teams in the last decade. Your Arsenals, Tottenhams and Everton come into that category as well.
“West Ham did brilliant last season and are showing the way in Europe. We want to try and emulate that this season if we can.
“We haven’t made as good a start as we would have wanted but it’s important that we take the confidence from the Chelsea game – despite the scoreline – and take it into this home game now.”
On playing Everton…
“I believe that we’ll be challenging each other for a top half finish this season. They’ve started really well, but they also started really well last season.
“Like ourselves, they won the first four games and they’ve started unbeaten this season as well. It’s certainly a challenge.
“I’m full of respect for Rafa Benitez. He’s an experienced coach and he understands this league at this level.
“Over the last couple of seasons since we’ve been back in the Premier League, we’ve got a really good record against them. Hopefully that can continue.”
