Emery delighted to seal Villa's automatic champions league qualification after 4-2 Celtic win
29/01/2025
uefa24
29/01/2025
uefa24
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00Good evening. First of all, congratulations on finishing at the top of the league. How big of a performance and goal was that?
00:07Good evening. Of course, we are very proud of our work, of our way in the Champions League this year,
00:14of our work last year getting to be in the Champions League,
00:20and in the Premier League it's very difficult to get to the Champions League side
00:29because there are a lot of teams, strong teams, being favourites or contenders.
00:35But it's very important how we are getting it, how we are here and where we started doing this way.
00:47And of course now we enjoy the way and today was a fantastic day because the atmosphere was fantastic.
00:55The fans were excited as well, very motivated. It was a very good match, a European match against Salzburg.
01:05And then in 90 minutes, more or less, we played a really brilliant match.
01:13Control of the game. The first half when we were 2-0, we were really feeling very comfortable and confident.
01:24But we lost. I don't know why we lost a little bit. Our idea, in a moment like that, to keep the ball position longer,
01:39stop the opponent, don't let them have chances to recover.
01:47The airport needs to be in the match. And when we drew, when we finished the first half in the dressing room,
01:56I was speaking. I can't understand why we are not being strong in our mentality when we started fantastic,
02:05to try to play 90 minutes. Because with 2-0, 90 minutes to play is trying to continue being demanding
02:14in everything we were doing. Because you are losing some moments the respect for the opponent.
02:20In the Premier League, in the Champions League, of course, the opponent can change completely the result
02:27or come back the result like they were trying to do. But the second half, again, we started like I want.
02:37Control of the game, doing passes, getting good positioning, respecting the opponent.
02:43And we were getting chances. And I was so, so calm in the second half.
02:49The first half I finished a little bit upset with the players. But really they responded fantastic in the second half.
02:55And we played consistent in the second half, dominating, avoiding the option to get our box.
03:06We didn't concede long ball position of them. And I think, of course, this is the way we are really here.
03:13And this is the way we did last year when we were in a row winning at home 15 matches.
03:20And, of course, this is again our objective. Try to be consistent and try to be demanding
03:25and try to be, as well, in our idea and style, strong.
03:31Before and during the match, there's been a lot of speculation around your two forwards and John Duran and Olly Watkins.
03:37Duran being linked with a move away to Saudi, Watkins being subject of a bid from another team.
03:43Can you just clarify their situations, especially Duran, because it looked like he was saying goodbye to them?
03:48The club is working and we have to be intelligent and competitive.
03:55And, of course, when we are developing players and increasing our target, getting it, playing in the Champions League,
04:09of course, we are in the eyes for another strong teams, another strong countries or leagues like in Arabia.
04:25And it's something, as well, I can feel proud of it because they are improving.
04:34We are having players interesting for other clubs and, as well, paying good money for us.
04:43But, of course, our objective here is to keep our structure intelligently because we want to be in the sports side, in the level we are.
04:56And to keep it for a long time is the most difficult challenge we have.
04:59And, of course, sometimes we have to do it, maybe selling some players, but, as well, trying to change other players then with good players as well.
05:08Trying to develop them here and to continue improving always.
05:13And I don't know exactly until everything is done if John Duran is leaving or not, but if he's leaving, it's good news for us.
05:24Because it's because they are paying good money, because it's good for him, because, as well, we developed one young player in two years getting this offer.
05:34And this is one thing, it's not only for the club, it's the club, the players and the team.
05:43Those three circumstances can be positive, maybe a minimum for two.
05:51The club, the players and the team.
05:58I didn't respond to you, but I don't know if he's going to leave or not.
06:02Not done.
06:12I don't want.
06:14But it's good news to have an offer for another club. It's good. Our interest is good.
06:24But I don't want. Of course, we want to keep our sport objective through the players we have in the squad.
06:35And, of course, every place can be in the market in case it's good for the players, for the club and for the team.
06:47But to get this deal, of course, we are going to be very demanding as well. And Watkins is our striker.
07:18For me, it doesn't matter. Because if it is, we have to accept it.
07:27But the most important is how the players in the field respond. It's the most important.
07:34And, of course, the team, we are with a lot of speculation around the players in the squad.
07:41But they are showing us they are mature and responsible.
07:48And today we were with a lot of players out for different circumstances, overall for injured players.
07:56But, for example, we are not speaking about cameras much today as a centre-back.
08:01Wow. Wow. Fantastic. Fantastic. Maybe the next player, they can call us on things to try to sign him.
08:11Maybe, because he is playing fantastic. And it's good for us as well.
08:15How much of an achievement, though, for the first European at this level since 1983 to get through to the round of 16? I mean, that is a colossal achievement.
08:25We started speaking about the possibility to play in the top eight after we won against Bayern Munich at home.
08:32And, as well, we were being demanded in that moment, if we won against Bayern Munich and we have six points now, we have to try to set, as well, this ambitious objective.
08:43Not being contender, but being, as well, with the possibility to get it.
08:49And last week, when we lost against Monaco, I was very upset. Very upset. And I was thinking, I was not positive about it.
08:56But then, progressively, because another thing, as well, it's not easy for them, as well, to win.
09:01And after the result on Wednesday, OK, it's not in our hands, but if we are winning, the possibility is increasing.
09:07And we got it. And, of course, very happy. We are going to avoid two matches.
09:13But sometimes it's better to play. Because you are playing, competing, and you can, as well, show your capacity, your potential.
09:21The players, as well, they are playing. But, as well, sometimes, and I accept it as a first priority, is to try to get the last 16 directly.
09:33And, of course, in the Champions League, we are not contender to win at the end.
09:39But we want to enjoy, we want to compete, we want to be protagonists, we want, as well, to show our capacity.
09:44And this is the most important objective I have with the players here in the Champions League.
09:48How was the game against Celtic tonight?
10:19Doing good passes, getting good positioning, and being more in their box.
10:26And, of course, through it, we beat them.
10:41With John Duran, you know more or less everything we were speaking here.
10:46Or my opinion about him. He's a fantastic player, fantastic potential young player.
10:54I was always trying to get him with my advice for everything.
11:01I was so, so close to him, trying to work with him in his development.
11:08But, as well, the players, they have their objective, they have their ambition.
11:12Sometimes they are impatient.
11:15And in case he's leaving, it's because he prefers to do another way in his career.
11:29He has to leave.
11:34If he's leaving, of course, it's because he wants to.
11:38We are not sending him without his agreement.
11:42I told you last week here, I wanted him here.
11:46Just the match after Sunday, after West Ham match we played.
11:51Here, I told you, I want him here.
11:55But, what does he want?
11:59Does it disappoint you that he's given up the Champions League in the last 16 to go to Saudi?
12:13We are different people, different person, different objective.
12:18We have to respect.
12:23Guys, with all my respect, we just won Celtic and we are taking some questions about the market.
12:28But we are just after the Celtic match.
12:31The deal is not done and I think that we can be round and round and round these questions.
12:36But we have to stop about the market, please.
12:38I ask with all my respect, guys.
12:45See you in two days.