Unai Emery spoke to the media at Bodymoor Heath on Friday afternoon as he held his pre-match press conference ahead of our clash against Manchester United.
The Aston Villa head coach discussed several topics as he previewed Sunday's Premier League trip to Old Trafford, with his side aiming to extend their 10-match unbeaten sequence.
Here's what he had to say...
On team news...
“I think it’s not going to change.
“(Matty) Cash is close but I think not for Sunday, (Philippe) Coutinho is close but not for Sunday, Leon Bailey as well is close, (Boubacar) Kamara is close.
“The four players are out, Jed Steer is completely out for the season, but the four players are close.
“Maybe they can train with us next week but not for Sunday.”
On Manchester United…
“It will be a very difficult match.
“Of course, they have good players individually and collectively.
“This year they are in the top four, like usually Manchester United have to do.
“They won the Carabao Cup final and they are going to play in the FA Cup final – it’s a very good season for them, only to leave from the Europa League.
“I think they are having a very good season.
“For us, it’s a very good challenge, it will be a very different match on Sunday to when we played at home when I arrived here.
“Very different match to when we played in the Carabao Cup there and lost 4-2.
“Now is a different moment for them and for us. But, as well, it will be very difficult for us.
“I think we can face the match, we can be very demanding trying in the 90 minutes to get our best performance.
“And if we do it, we can have chances to take some points.”
On pressure...
“I like to play matches like we are playing now.
“I think every May is a very important month, if you are playing for something important.
“Of course, if you are playing to escape the bottom it is not the same.
“Some teams were playing last weekend in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, like we are playing now for European places or some teams are playing in Europe in semi-finals as well.
“And when you are getting those moments, playing now like we are playing key matches, to get something really, really important – to be in Europe next year.
“I think this is the best moment you can have.
“We have to be very focused. I like to play under pressure because, for me, it’s not negative pressure, it’s positive pressure because it’s something important.
“Only you can play feeling good trying to get good performances, it’s focusing on each match and practicing before to try and do the same on the pitch.
“I’m not thinking ‘if I will win’ or ‘if I will lose’. I’m thinking, I want to play, I want to face Manchester United, Fulham, Brentford, Wolves, Tottenham… every team, every match I like to face, because in this moment we are really, really playing for something important.”
On our targets…
“Now, the last step is to keep in the European places.
“We escaped the bottom, we got top 10 and now the European places is the last step but it is more difficult.
“There’s still five matches to play for us, but not for Liverpool, Brighton, Manchester United.
“We have to face the match on Sunday playing, enjoying this opportunity we have in front of us.
“But the new target is Europe.
“Of course, Europe could be Champions League, it could be Europa League or it could be Europa Conference League.
“Champions League is very, very difficult, maybe impossible.
“Europa League and Conference League could be, but as well it’s going to be very difficult.
“We are now fighting teams like Tottenham and Liverpool, three or four years ago they were both playing in the Champions League final.
“We are now fighting with those teams, with the same players, and then Brighton, who are having an exceptional season, playing brilliant and big performances as a team, deserving to be there as well. And we are with them.
“Three months ago, we were a big (points) difference off them and we deserve to have this opportunity and to have the last new target in front – enjoy it with our supporters and, of course, trying to be very demanding trying to get it.”