Emery pleased with positive energy

Unai Emery lauded the “positive energy” from Villa Park on Wednesday night, after his Aston Villa side secured a third successive win in the UEFA Champions League.

The Villans defeated Norwegian side Viking FK 3-1 to move up to second in the league phase table, also making it six matches unbeaten in all competitions.

And Emery admitted his delight after another European win, thanking the Villa supporters for the part they played in B6.

Speaking to VillaTV post-match, he said: “We are delighted, with the atmosphere here with the supporters, enjoying the way we are doing in the Champions League.

“This competition is fantastic. After the Premier League, this competition is something, Europe especially, where we can feel comfortable, where we can achieve our objective and enjoy the way we are doing.

“In Conference League, Europa League, Champions League two times, how the players are responding in our challenges, in our demands, is really fantastic.

“How we are as well tactically trying to get compact, better and better, how we can as well feel we need tactically to respond against the teams and the competition we are facing.

“And then, individually, try to feel comfortable, confident, to exploit their qualities. Today, we watched it.

“So, overall, great atmosphere, great energy here, positive energy with the supporters transmitting us, and we responded on the field with the plan we did for this match – respecting the competition, respecting the opponent.”

With away trips to Barcelona and Galatasaray next up in the Champions League, Emery is keen to park European focus for now, and turn attention to Saturday’s Premier League visit of Manchester City.

He feels Wednesday’s win will undoubtedly add confidence to a camp which continues to progress and adapt to his tactical philosophy.

The Villa boss added: “Those three points are something (that) fills us (with) confidence, comfortable, and of course as well getting balance, because after this match we are going to play against Barcelona, favourites, and then we are going to play against Galatasaray as well, away.

“We have two matches now – very, very difficult in this competition. Get aside this competition, and try to focus now (on) Manchester City on Saturday, hopefully the same atmosphere, the same energy. So happy, but keep moving forward with the challenges we are going to face.

“There’s still a lot of work to do, so how we are responding, getting better, is really fantastic.

“How some individual players are feeling comfortable and getting confidence and getting better rhythm on the field is really as well something (that) makes us happy and confident (in) ourselves.”

Watch Emery’s full post-match interview now via VillaTV, by clicking below…