Unai Emery spoke to reporters on Friday afternoon as he previewed Aston Villa’s FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough.
The head coach and his team meet the Championship side in the third round at Riverside Stadium on Saturday.
Here’s what Emery had to say in his pre-match press conference…
On the prestige of the FA Cup…
“I won some titles in different cups in France with PSG, and I was asking this morning for some players’ experiences in different cup competitions when they’ve been successful.
“We are here trying to build a new way with Aston Villa and the players we have here. We are going to try to do one way in this competition because it’s a very prestigious competition here in England.
“We have to be focused to build and create a strong structure with the players we have, thinking in our mentality about doing something important.
“We want to be contenders to play in the next round. We are respecting Middlesbrough; they are going to be excited to play against us.”
On Villa’s chances in the competition…
“Always we have to be demanding in every match we are facing. It’s a way for a trophy and a way to get prestige for the club, supporters and players.
“This is the first picture I want to show the players: prestige, fighting for a trophy and playing in the Europa League if you are successful at the end. That is another motivation.
“I will face them tomorrow morning in the meeting sending them this message.”
On improvements for the second half of the season…
“We need to keep being consistent and be demanding in our work every day. We have to remember everything tactically about how we want to defend, how we want to build our structure with and without ball possession, and how we can keep being consistent in our mentality.
“We will try to be competitive in each match, adapt to the opponent and be respectful of them. I think football is very, very, very difficult.
“How we can keep being consistent in everything every day; how we can be responsible and mature to work every day; to try to rest and take good food.”
On facing Middlesbrough…
“Playing them away with their wishes to do something against us, to show their potential playing in the Championship and trying to get a good performance against a Premier League team in a top position in the table.
“For them, I think it’s going to be a special match. They are going to try to show their best qualities with the players and as well for the coaches to try and show their tactical work – I think it’s very good work.
“I respect them. We are going to try to be competitive away and try to get the same structure tactically to feel stronger. Tomorrow is a good opportunity.
“We are going to try to be successful and end the match playing in our structure.”