Relaxing’ – Unai Emery makes Tottenham admission after Aston Villa’s win over Fulham

Unai Emery makes Tottenham admission after Aston Villa’s win over Fulham
Aston Villa news from BirminghamLive as Unai Emery gives his verdict after the 3-1 win over Fulham at Villa Park

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery
Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery (Image: Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Unai Emery is looking forward to a few days of rest in the November international break after Aston Villa’s excellent start to the campaign, but admits he already has one eye on the club’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur in two weeks’ time.

Villa have now started the season with six straight home league wins for the first time since 1959 – which is a feat last managed in the top-flight in 1932 – after beating Fulham 3-1 at Villa Park. Emery’s side opened the scoring in the 27th minute as Youri Tielemans’ cross was turned into the net by Fulham’s Antonee Robinson, before John McGinn doubled the lead by striking beyond Bernd Leno from outside the box.

Ollie Watkins then made sure of the points just after the hour mark as he rounded off a sweeping move led by Leon Bailey and McGinn. Raul Jimenez bagged a consolation goal for the visitors in the 70th minute as he tapped in from Robinson’s pass after the left-back beat Villa’s offside trap.

“Of course, I am happy,” Emery said in his post-match press conference. “I am happy and I can take my days off as well relaxing with the result we had and with the moment we are now in the table and in the Conference League as well.

“Each match is a new challenge and I am going to rest and take some days resting, but of course, my mind is in Tottenham and my mind is with Legia Warsaw at home. My mind is in here again against Manchester City and Arsenal.”

After the international break, Villa face Tottenham and Bournemouth away before hosting Man City and Arsenal at Villa Park.

“I don’t want to think a lot about what we did and I don’t think about a lot what is coming,” Emery said when asked about setting a new club-record of home league wins. “Really, I want to enjoy each moment and I want to analyse the match today.

“I want to share with the players the analysis deeply we are doing. Then, try to take again full energy to prepare the match against Tottenham. We are playing here at home again against Legia, Man City and Arsenal, they are going to amazing matches and big challenges for everybody. We are going to be very excited, but life is passing very fast and it is very important to enjoy each moment.

“I want to continue being trying to take the next challenge. When we are winning at home we feel good and were being strong in our structure. There are still a lot of matches to play and one day we are going to lose.”

What do you make of Emery’s comments? Tell us in the comments section…
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Welcome to Claret & Blue – An Aston Villa Podcast. Hosted by Dan Rolinson, Mat Kendrick & John Townley of Birmingham Live. On our YouTube channel, we’ll be posting a minimum of three new podcasts per week throughout the 2023/24 Premier League season.