Unai Emery Q&A: Every word Villa boss said about Iroegbunam, Kamara's return and injury updates
Aston Villa news from BirminghamLive as Unai Emery sits down with the media at Bodymoor Heath ahead of Fulham clash
Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery spoke to the media at his press conference at Bodymoor Heath earlier this afternoon ahead of his side's Premier League clash against Fulham.
Villa have only won one of their last six games in all competitions, but are targeting back-to-back away league wins for the first time this season on Saturday. Here's every word Emery said to the media...
How is Kamara and when will he be back?
"The most difficult for the players and the person is when they are injured. When they are being injured for a long time it is the worst in football. We had two injuries for a long time for all the season, Mings and Buendia. Now it is the same for Kamara, he has injured his ACL. He is going to be out for the rest of the season, and more or less in September or October he is coming back. Diego Carlos has a hamstring injury and will be out for three to four weeks."
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Are there any updates on Mings and Buendia?
"Always they are in our mind. They have spirit and they support us in the training ground. I think all the season they are going to be out, but hopefully they can train at the end of the group starting next season being fine to come back like before.
How pleased are you with Leon Bailey?
"We are very happy with him and his process here when I arrived was getting better. Sometimes we were working with him to improve and increase his performance. His performances were better at home than away and he is working hard to be consistent, not only when we are with the ball when we can get him in the attacking third to use his speed and get him one-on-one.
"Also we need him when we are being compact and defensively strong. We are trying to get of him the balance playing being consistent and as well, being very demanding with him. When we decided to extend the contract, he deserved it and he wanted to stay here.
"His commitment with Aston Villa is perfect and the supporters love him. We have to do one step ahead and to increase our level and with him it is the same. He must continue working and being demanding each match. We are going to play away tomorrow in Fulham and hopefully we can get of him his best performances on the pitch, the field and we are happy.
What do you say to supporters who might be concerned given the recent results?
"We started being committed to get the best in each competition. But Premier League is always the most important because in 38 matches you have to show the best work at the end of the season, to be in Europe or not, to be excited in 38 matches because you are in a good position to get Europe.
"Then, trying to increase our demands as well in this competition. If we can get Champions League, Europa League or Europa Conference League. But we weren’t contenders and we are not no contenders. There are another seven teams better than us and we have to be consistent.
"The message is to focus on each match and be demanding in our preparation. Work hard and work on the details deeply. Try to support and to help the players to be comfortable to show their best qualities and performances tactically and with their skills.
"Then, be motivated each match. We lost two competitions and of course we have to accept it. Our focus is now the Premier League and when the European games come again, we are going to try and get strong in this way."
What gives you confidence that your squad can cope with the demands ahead?
"I believe in the players we have in the squad. I believe as they have shown us already at the start of the season. We played without Buendia, one match with Mings. We were four months without Moreno and Ramsey.
"We got the performances collectively and individually to be in the position we are. With some or other injuries but we are recovering players and have added players like Kaine Kesler. I want to work with them and support them, to help them get confidence playing in our structure.
"We are adding players like Tim and it is his moment. Firstly, every day in the training session he has to train to play in the matches and to get the performance we want of him and then enjoy."
What are you expecting from Fulham?
"I respect the coach a lot, Marco Silva. He has experience but his experience is usually very competitive. He is an intelligent coach and tactically he is very good.
"They are a very organised team and were successful at home against Arsenal and Bournemouth in the last match. They lost to Newcastle but it could happen.
"Analysing them and when we played at home against them, they showed their potential and their structure being organised and very competitive. They can be aggressive offensively and they get one-to-one with Wilson and Reid.
"They are using inside different players, Iwobi is coming back after AFCON, Palhinha is a very good player. They use different centre-backs but they have four very experienced players. Robinson and Castagne are full-backs who are very offensive as well, demanding a lot from the opponent.
It is a difficult match. Always we are preparing to face them with our best performance and best qualities. We need to play being organised as well and being individually confident and trying to get our game plan and imposing it.
“Tomorrow is a challenge but the preparation, each match in the Premier League is being very difficult. The quality of the coaches and of the players is high."
What will you miss in Kamara’s absence?
"John McGinn is being versatile and performing in each position he is playing because he is a very intelligent player. His commitment to play helping the team when we need it is fantastic.
"We have used him playing as a centre-midfielder and he was getting comfortable. He is one option for me to play him as a midfielder. We have Douglas Luiz and Tielemans as well. Tielemans is versatile. McGinn is versatile and has the characteristics to play with Luiz, Tielemans and can play even with Kamara, he did that but not a lot.
"Other players like Luiz, McGinn and Tielemans were playing comfortable because they knew with him when we try to stop the opponent, Kamara was fantastic doing it. The same characteristic like him is Tim.
"But Tim is young. He was here two years ago as well before I arrived here. He was on loan at QPR. When he is out on loan it is to try and take minutes and confidence, trying to play trying to increase his qualities and his experiences. But I want him now here because I decided to stick with him and let Dendoncker leave because in case the moment comes like now. He has to be ready and he has to be ready being demanding and say ‘it is my time and I am here!’ I don’t know if he is going to, but I am positive with him and I believe in him.
"Maybe he will need minutes and matches more than one or two to get confidence, but he has to do it quick. It is his moment. When I was speaking about my responsibility to give him chances, but then it is their responsibility. They have to be ready. Football is nice and a privilege to play football and to work in football. But it is very difficult and very demanding. We have to support the players and help them, trying always to give them chances and to set them on the pitch in our structure tactically. They have to play and in the end, football is for them.”
Are you looking for greater consistency from Diaby?
"Leon Bailey arrived here three years ago. Diaby is only this year and they were playing together for Bayer Leverkusen, both being successful. The adaptation of Moussa Diaby, there is still work to do. The most important for me is how he is progressing, how he is working and how he is feeling.
"Of course, sometimes more successful than less. Sometimes as well maybe his expectation to get quickly the performance we want we are not getting, but I am speaking a lot with him and always speaking with him in calm, trying to be consistent and even when we are not playing like we want, keep going. His mentality is this way. I am not in a hurry with him to get it."