Aston Villa manager Unai Emery stated he will “prepare more” for the upcoming match against Manchester United than his preparation for the Champions League match against Bayern Munich earlier this week.
Unai Emery successfully led Aston Villa to a remarkable top-four finish in the Premier League last season, showcasing his tactical acumen and the team’s resilience. This achievement was further highlighted by an impressive 1-0 victory over the German powerhouse Bayern Munich on Wednesday night, marking a significant milestone in their Champions League campaign.
Despite the team’s success, many skeptics anticipated that Villa would struggle to juggle the rigorous demands of the Premier League and the Champions League. Concerns about whether they could maintain their high performance across multiple competitions were raised. However, it’s still early in the season, and Emery’s squad has made a strong start, displaying confidence and skill on the pitch. Their current form positions them well, as they set their sights on achieving another top-six finish to secure European qualification once again. This goal reflects their ambition and underscores Emery’s belief in the team’s potential to compete at the highest levels of football.
United will travel to Birmingham to face Villa this weekend. After a tough week managing the club, Erik ten Hag will be eager to achieve a positive outcome.
United triumphed 3-2 over Villa at Old Trafford last season and claimed the reverse fixture 2-1, Thanks to Scott McTominay’s late victory, which bodes well for the upcoming match.
Emery Expresses Respect for Ten Hag and Prepares for United Clash
During his pre-match press conference on Friday, Unai Emery was asked about Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, as excitement builds for the upcoming clash. Emery expressed his deep respect for United and acknowledged their rich history and significant achievements in domestic and European competitions. He emphasized the formidable talent within United’s squad, highlighting that facing such a renowned opponent requires meticulous planning and heightened preparation. To ensure his team is ready to tackle the challenges posed by United, Emery indicated that he would devote extra effort to their preparation. This commitment reflects his understanding of the match’s importance, not just for points in the league but also for building momentum and confidence moving forward.
“I have a lot of respect for him. We won the first match when I arrived here, and it was fantastic, but after it, we’ve lost four matches against them at home and away,” said Emery.
“They are a winning team; they have an experienced coach and experienced players. The club is usually a winning club and they still being winners – they won the FA Cup last year against Manchester City.
“They are not getting consistently good results in the Premier League, but playing only one match, they can exploit their capacity and skill with a huge performance.”
Emery continued: “We are not favourites to be in the top seven, we are not in the Premier League. We want to be contenders in the process we are, getting points.
“We are playing on Sunday against Manchester United and I think it’s a huge match for us after we played Bayern Munich because through Premier League we are playing against the best teams in the world.
“Manchester United aren’t in the Champions League now they are playing in the Europa League, but they are a team with a quality players and coach, like teams we are facing in the Champions League.
“On Sunday, we will need the same atmosphere with the supporters in Villa Park like we had on Wednesday. I have no doubt they are going to help and support on Sunday, transmitting their energy and pushing us to get three points.
“I respect them, and I will prepare the match more than how I prepared the match against Bayern Munich.”
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