Unai Emery spoke to the media from Bodymoor Heath on Friday afternoon.
Aston Villa’s head coach was quizzed on how he’ll prepare his players for Sunday’s game against Brighton & Hove Albion and the threats they’ll face on the south coast.
Here’s what he had to say…
On team selection…
“Tomorrow is a training session and we can have more information about some players who played yesterday and some players who are coming with a small injury that could be available for Sunday.
“Until tomorrow it’s impossible to know.”
On returning to Premier League action…
“We have to adapt and play a lot of matches if we are playing in Europe. We are in a semi-final in the Conference League, with the match we played last night against Olympiacos being difficult.
“If we want to grow in Europe, playing in the Europa League or in the Champions League, it’s a very good test and experience. We have to play and we have to get performances, collectively and individually playing both competitions.
“I like it, and the players have to adapt to the situation of playing more matches than normal. We have to try to take experiences.
“I played a lot in Europe for a long time, but with the players we have here we have to manage those competitions and try to be successful in both.”
On preparations for the game…
“Firstly, we have to focus again on the Premier League after we analyse the match we played yesterday.
“We’ll be quick to analyse with the players the match we’re going to face on Sunday against Brighton, with their characteristics of their team and individual players.
“We have to recover quickly full energy for Sunday. Our motivation is high because we are now fourth and it’s a very important match to try to be closer to our first objective in the Premier League.”
On facing Brighton…
“The respect for them is high. Roberto De Zerbi is an amazing coach, he was playing very good with very good results last year.
“This year, they’ve changed a lot of players and it’s normal. They need time to get again the same performances like last year and to be successful in their style.
“It’s amazing how they were playing, how they are trying to play. The results are not the same, but I appreciate them a lot. I appreciate De Zerbi; I appreciate how they were playing; I appreciate their style.
“It’s always very difficult. We played against them in different matches last year and this year as well, and on Sunday it’s going to be very difficult.
“We have to compete very well and adapt to them a lot. We have to try to impose our positioning and game plan. It’s going to be very difficult. They are playing at home and they’re going to try to push with their supporters and be focused in 90 minutes.
“They will try to beat us and we have to be ready, focused 100% if we want to get something there.”
