Emery meets the media ahead of Celtic

Aston Villa take the next step of their UEFA Champions League journey on Wednesday night.

Unai Emery's team welcome Celtic to Villa Park for the final match of their league phase campaign, harbouring hopes of a top eight finish.

The club's manager spoke to reporters ahead of the game at Bodymoor Heath on Tuesday afternoon.

Here's what he had to say...

On team news…

“We will see this afternoon. We’re going to train and we’re going to see how every player is feeling for the match tomorrow.

“We have Lamare Bogarde in the squad. He helped us a lot at the beginning of the season and he’s training and competing well every day in the training sessions. He’s another option we have.

“Sil (Swinkels) is training with us but we are thinking to let him leave on loan. I think he needs more experience, getting minutes, to be ready to play with us a match like tomorrow in the Champions League.”

He added: “We have enough players to compete and feel confident. Some versatile players have to feel confident when they are playing, for example on Sunday with Lucas Digne playing at centre-back because he has a left foot for our build up.

“He’s an experienced player and he can feel confident playing as a centre-back in case we need him. I’m analysing everything, firstly, in case Tyrone Mings is available then he will play. We have versatile players but also Lamare Bogarde, we know he can play and help us.”

On Villa’s top eight hopes…

“I want to be active and I want to play enjoying the way. If we are reaching it, of course, I want to be in the top eight. If we have the opportunity, it’s fantastic.

“Last week I was a little bit pessimistic after the match against Monaco, but overall we are doing a fantastic way. We are with 13 points and it’s not in our hands, but other teams have to win tomorrow in case we are winning.

“I want to play the match and I want to enjoy tomorrow with our supporters on day eight of the Champions League this year. We are excited and motivated. The players are showing us that they are enjoying the Champions League.

“We’re enjoying competing, enjoying trying to win and enjoying trying to create a strong atmosphere with our supporters.”

On Jacob Ramsey…

“It’s been tough for him last year and this year not being consistently playing for different circumstances – small injuries and last year a big injury.

“We believe in how he can recover again his good form like he showed here two years ago when we arrived here. Scoring one goal on Sunday will give him confidence and help him feel confident playing consistent minutes.

“Last week we decided to stop him in Monaco because he was telling us he was not feeling strong for three matches in a row in one week. We decided to stop him. On Sunday he played well. He was feeling comfortable and getting confidence with his goal.

“Tomorrow is another opportunity for the team, for the players, for him.”

On facing Celtic…

“They are a very prestigious club, who’ve won the Champions League. We are excited and motivated with our supporters to enjoy this way.

“We are with 13 points with the possibility to be in the top eight, and we are doing a very fantastic way in the Champions League this year, even losing a good opportunity last week against Monaco. We competed and played more or less in the way I want.

“Tomorrow is a very good opportunity here against Celtic. I know it’s a special match for our supporters. It’s fantastic to play Champions League matches, it’s fantastic to play against Celtic.

“I have played against them in Champions League before with other clubs and their supporters are going to bring an atmosphere in Villa Park. It’s very good to enjoy football like that, deep football.”

On Brendan Rodgers…

“Brendan is a fantastic coach. He showed it here in Leicester and Celtic as well. The last matches we played together were in Leicester and it was always very difficult to beat him.  

“With Leicester it was a different moment with different teams. I played him before with Spartak Moscow and it was a different moment. Tomorrow we will respect them like they deserve.

“They’re a winning team, and their mentality is usually winning a lot of matches in a row in the league. They have very experienced players, international players, and they’re going to play tomorrow here feeling confident, trying to face us feeling they can be close to us with their performance.

“I know, because I respect them and I analyse them, that the way they are doing to be in the next round is because they have good players, a good coach and the club is prestigious. The players feel there they are a team to play in Europe.”