Aston Villa Boss Unai Emery Demands More Consistency from His Side

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery says his team must improve their consistency to achieve their season objectives, as they prepare to face Preston North End in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has emphasized the need for his team to demonstrate greater consistency if they are to make a meaningful challenge for the FA Cup. Emery's comments came during his latest press conference, as Villa prepares to face Preston North End in their upcoming FA Cup tie.

Aston Villa's history in the FA Cup is marked by both triumph and heartbreak. The club last lifted the trophy in 1957, and since then, they have experienced a series of near-misses. Villa has reached the semi-finals on 10 occasions, only to fall short of advancing to the final. Furthermore, they have finished as runners-up four times, underscoring the team's enduring desire to claim the coveted title.

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Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is eager to add to the club's rich history in the FA Cup, having already won the competition seven times. Emery's ambition is to guide Villa to their eighth FA Cup title this season. During a recent press conference, Emery reflected on the team's performance in previous seasons, highlighting the importance of maintaining energy levels throughout the campaign.

When questioned about the strength of his current squad compared to previous seasons, Emery provided insight into the team's dynamics. “Two years ago, we finished the season strong. We drew against Liverpool and won against Brighton at home. Last year, we finished the season very tired, there wasn't enough energy, and we lost the last match against Crystal Palace away,” Emery explained. This season, Emery's primary objective is to ensure the team maintains its energy levels throughout the campaign. “This year, my idea and how we are now planning the rest of the season is to try to finish with full energy,” he emphasized.

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Emery also provided an update on the team's injury situation ahead of their FA Cup clash with Preston North End. Ross Barkley is currently the only player in doubt for the match. “I think the only player a doubt for tomorrow is Ross Barkley,” Emery revealed. The manager will assess the fitness of several key players, including Emi Martinez, Leon Bailey, and Andres Garcia, during the team's afternoon training session. “Oh, of course, we are going to train now this afternoon, and with players like Emi Martinez, Leon Bailey and Andres Garcia, we will see how they are physically and hopefully, we can keep the players we have now who have been available for the last few months,” Emery said.

The international break provided a welcome respite for Unai Emery's Aston Villa side, allowing the team to recharge and refocus. Emery revealed that he and his team made the most of the break, using the time to work on improving their performance. “We had a good break. Of course, we were working, and we were focusing the break to try to improve with the players we were working (with),” Emery explained. With several players away on international duty, Emery's squad was somewhat depleted, but he still managed to make productive use of the time.

Emery also utilized the break to conduct an in-depth analysis of his team's previous matches, seeking to identify areas for improvement. “Not a lot (of players), because there were more of them with their national team. We used the time as well to analyse the matches we played, deeply, to try to do our best performances collectively and individually,” Emery said. Looking ahead to the remainder of the season, Emery emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and drive. “From here, for now, until the last match we will play, hopefully for a long time as well.”

Emery went on to discuss the issue of consistency, which has been a major concern for Aston Villa this season. The team's inability to string together a series of convincing performances has seen them struggle to maintain a challenge for a European spot in the Premier League. “The season is more or less the consistency we can have, but each moment is different,” Emery observed. He acknowledged that his team has fallen short of expectations, emphasizing the need for greater demands on themselves. “And now, we are in another moment, we have individually and collectively to be very demanding because we were under our expectation, our ambition to get the objective we want for the season.”

Emery highlighted the team's defensive vulnerabilities as a key area for improvement. “Of course, we conceded a lot of goals in the season, we are being sometimes consistent, but not enough,” he said. While Villa has been relatively solid at home, drawing a number of matches, Emery recognizes that this is not sufficient. “For example, we didn’t lose a lot of matches at home, only one in the Premier League, but we draw a lot of matches. This means we are consistent, yes, but not enough, because we are drawing more matches than we needed.” Emery views the current moment as a critical juncture in the season, emphasizing the need for his team to adopt a stronger mindset. “Now, today, Friday 28th March is a key moment, how we are going to face the last months in the competitions we have.”

Looking ahead, Emery is determined to see his team improve defensively and build on their existing strengths. “Of course, the idea is to try to get better and be stronger defensively, like we were before,” he said, emphasizing his commitment to guiding Villa back to a more solid and consistent level of performance.