Unai Emery Q&A: Every word Aston Villa boss said about Watkins, Diaby, Bournemouth draw
Aston Villa news from BirminghamLive as Unai Emery speaks to the press after his side's 2-2 draw with Bournemouth in the Premier League
Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery sat down with the media after his side's 2-2 draw with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
Ollie Watkins scored in the 90th minute to snatch a point for Villa, who twice came back from behind to draw with match. Here’s every word Emery said about the win in his press conference…
How do you assess that match?
"Really happy. Really tough match and of course it's not the best result, but it's not the worst. In the first half we started very well but they scored and it was a difficult moment. We reacted very well and drew.
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"We had chances and so did they. VAR refused one goal from us and in the second half we started with the same resilience and started to impose progressively some tactical work we did before.
"They scored and it was more difficult, but again. In the end it was brilliant how we are trying to be consistent in 90 minutes and never give and up and be in the match. It’s a very good point for us and we have to accept it."
Is there a reason why Carlos comes in away from home?
"No."
Was there a change of defensive structure today?
"I am trying to use the players and get each starting XI thinking in our performance and how we can get face the opponent."
Was it a big decision to start Watkins?
"He had a small pain on Thursday and we didn’t take a risk. We waited on his progress for Friday and Saturday and today. He was feeling very good yesterday and we decided to play him yesterday. No more circumstances changed about the pain he had."
Was his performance and goal more impressive considering the injury?
"He is strong and when he is feeling good physically he can play 90 minutes and play matches in a row like we are playing. On Thursday we preferred not to take a risk."
How important could that point be at the end of the season?
"It’s a good point, a very good point."
How tempting was it to give Moussa a start, did you rest him?
"It is not rest. As well it is because we have a player like Zaniolo and we have to get the best opportunity to him to play and to get confidence and to get minutes. Of course, we played on Thursday, today and two matches next week. It’s difficult to set up the same starting XI in those matches. I am sure, not completely, but I think we will change something for Wednesday."
How pleased are you with Moussa?
"Yes, we have to add different players with their characterises and to get more from them. Leon Bailey got a goal, Moussa got an assist. Their combination with players as well we have to use in different matches.
"We have to give them chances and minutes to feel comfortable. We are in this process and of course, after today, we played last week and won at Tottenham, won at home. We have to accept it, we have to accept the point.
"We have to try as well to use different players. We are trying to build a team, not only 11 players. I will give everyone chances. They have to feel important and they have to feel as well playing with their personality as well. We are facing different competitions as well."
Do you wish your goalkeeper was less busy?
"I want to score a lot of goals and I want to stop conceding the opportunity to score. Our objective is to be strong defensively and to keep a clean sheet, but the reality is in the last matches were are not doing it.
"It’s our work every day to improve and try to analyse and to get better. In case like the last matches we are conceding goals but scoring lots of goals then I am happy and I want like today for Ollie Watkins to score, Leon Bailey to score. It is positive."
Would you rather keep more clean sheets or score more goals?
“The only objective is to win.”
How crucial were Martinez’s saves today?
"He is fantastic, fantastic. He is not happy because we conceded two goals. He was fantastic, he saved two times very important moments and that was very important to believe through his individual performance as well."