00:00Right, okay. Right. As I said, we'll do raise hands just so the mics can get passed around.
00:07First three questions for Unai, second three for EME, and then we'll work from there.
00:12So, we'll start there. Thank you.
00:18Hello, Unai.
00:20Good evening.
00:21Hello. First of all, just wondered, how excited are you to be back in the Champions League,
00:28but also, it is a new-look squad from the last time you were in the competition.
00:34So, are you excited by that challenge?
00:37Good evening. Of course, we are very motivated and very excited to play this competition.
00:46Europe is something fantastic.
00:49We started playing in Conference League.
00:51We played together in Champions League two years ago.
00:55So, last year, in another competition like Europe League, we were successful.
01:00And, again, to be here in Champions League is really something fantastic.
01:04How we achieved it is like we can continue feeling proud of how we did through the league,
01:13finishing fourth and winning Europe League.
01:16But, it's a new chapter and completely different.
01:21When we started the project here, the vision we had was, in our highest expectation,
01:33even maybe it was not to be in Europe four years in a row that we are in the Champions
01:37League.
01:38It was very difficult when we started together working.
01:41But, it was our vision with the owner and, as well, we settled the standard high with the players to
01:51try to be there.
01:52And we are.
01:53And, now, it's the moment, as well, to remember how we are here and why we did the way.
02:02And, how, with a new, a different moment, chapter, we are starting, how we did as well the last three
02:12years.
02:12And, the last three years, of course, we were progressively getting better, creating and building our structure strong.
02:22And, in the level we achieved it, playing in Europe, winning a trophy and feeling really very good in the
02:35level we were playing.
02:37And, the vision we can have now is the same, or the vision I have, and with the club as
02:45well, the vision we settled for the years here, after today, after this year, the next year.
02:55How we can, again, to continue in this level, changing some players, key players, but those key players we changed
03:04this year as well,
03:05before the last year, we were changing, not like this year, because this year was more players than normal.
03:14But, we are replacing them, we have the players with experiences, like here, Emiliano, and they deserve to continue here,
03:27trying to take, now, more responsibility and try to give the players we have, of course, we have, as well,
03:33now,
03:33and new players with a lot of experiences, like Goretzka, for example, and we have some young players,
03:39they are coming from some clubs like Garnaccio, or Embaille, Jackson, they are players as well.
03:49We must try to adapt them, in our structure, tactically, in our idea, as fast as possible,
03:55and we are going to try to get their best in adaptation, to be playing comfortable and confident in our
04:02structure.
04:04And, we need time. I don't know if we need time or not. It's not, for me, something I am
04:11thinking of.
04:12I am thinking to compete, to compete each match. And, we started the Premier League, the first competition,
04:18as an objective, at the end of the season, because through it, we can achieve our objective this year.
04:24And, we are progressing. Still, not enough, because we are not getting good results.
04:30But, tomorrow is a new test. And, a new test in Europe, in the Champions League, away, with one team
04:36like Bruges,
04:37they, they, they, they, they play it as well, two years ago, I can ask, I can ask three times,
04:43and they show with us their capacity. Different coach, different players, some players they are repeating,
04:48but a few players. And, we as well, a new team, a new, a new players.
04:53And, the difficulties in Europe, are there. And, tomorrow, we, we must play focused, respectful,
05:02compete, and, and try to get our best collectively. Collectively. I think, the last match in whole city,
05:08we show with collectively, a little bit, some improves, and then, individually as well.
05:13And, this is the, the challenge. Speaking on the summary, the challenge is, is, is there.
05:19Who's next?
05:22This would be helpful, if you do it, before we get the pause. Okay.
05:26I can, some flow. Ben, at the end. Thank you.
05:30Hi, Unai. I just wonder, in, in, in Europe last year, the Bologna game, the first game in Europe,
05:36was, was significant in terms of getting a victory. Do you see, maybe, parallels and similarities
05:41this season, what it can give you, if you were to win tomorrow night?
05:45I don't like to compare so much, different years, different starts.
05:50But, uh, it's, it's normal because it's something similar. Like, yeah, we started so poor and
05:56progressively we were improving and we finished the season fantastic. But, to repeat it is,
06:01it's not easy. And, uh, we started playing in Europe when we were in the poor start in the
06:07Premier League, at home against Bologna and we won, and we started after it improving, improving,
06:13improving, and, and, and, and, and. And we are in a lot of matches. Of course, it is one example.
06:18It's one example,
06:19one experience. I think we can use it as an experience. We must be passionate, but we
06:25must be aware that we have to work hard and we have to try to prepare as better as possible
06:35each match and tomorrow is. Tomorrow is a way that has always been more difficult.
06:41We have experiences as well here together in the Conference League three years ago,
06:46in the Champions League, in the Europa League last year. Last year away, we lost against
06:53the Eagles. Maybe in that moment we could feel a favourites, but in Europe, to be a favourite
07:02is something that is dangerous for you because you must respect everything, you must prepare
07:10each game as best as possible and they are going to play with their supporters here. We
07:18have another experience and here, two years ago, we lost as well here against Bruges, 1-0.
07:25We didn't perform well and we didn't play well. This is the experiences, every experience we
07:32can use to understand how it's going to be the difficult match tomorrow as well.
07:42Unai, Leon Goretzka has just confirmed that he won't be available until after the international
07:48break. Could you just tell us what his injury is? You just mentioned him as one of the experienced
07:53injuries against players, so how frustrating that is for you. But the injured players, for me, are
08:02something normal. Of course, for me, every player, they are the same. And when we are closing the squad
08:12with two players for position and some young players as well, trying to use their potential progressively
08:21more and more. And so one is like now George performing very well. And other players can have some
08:31injuries and we must be ready to replace them. Now we have, as a midfielder, Joao Gomez tomorrow
08:40available after he is suspended in the Premier League, but he is available for tomorrow.
08:46And Goretzka's issue and his injury, of course, is a little bit frustrated. But we have players
08:54to then place him with Ross Barkley, with Joao Gomez, with the midfielder Lamar Bogarde and Camara.
09:02And when he is coming back, of course, hopefully he can get the consistency, training and playing,
09:11and we can add his experience. Because his experience is something we added when we signed him. Then
09:19is as well his skills and his mentality, I think. And as a player, I think, will help us in
09:29different
09:30competitions with the level he has. Do you just know what his injury is?
09:34It's his knee.
09:35Okay. Emi, I wanted to ask you, the manager has spoken about a lot of new players,
09:40a lot of new teammates, a new chapter, but trying to keep the same mentality from previous seasons.
09:47As someone that's been part of that, what can you do as a player to ensure that all of those
09:52arriving have those, or build that mentality?
09:56Yeah, well, I've been here already for five years. So myself and other players,
10:07like obviously the captains, Maguina and Taiton, and other some players,
10:13we've already been here when the manager and the new staff came four years ago. So
10:20I think our job with the new players is to try to help them to settle well and as soon
10:26as possible
10:26to help the team. I think the structure is there. It doesn't matter how many players we can change
10:32from one season to another. The structure is clear, the philosophy is clear, and the style we want to
10:38play is clear. We go every game with the same determination and the analysis for every game is
10:45clear. So tomorrow we have a great test in European competition. Away is always difficult,
10:53like you said. So the mentality has to be the same like has been for all these years back to
11:03be a winner.
11:04So that's all. Emiliano, the last time Villa were in the Champions League, perhaps you did not play a major
11:12role
11:13that season. How determined does that make you to make a real impact in the competition? This time,
11:19now you have a chance. Yes, that was a year after the injury. It was a tough year personally, but
11:28I think the
11:28came back was very important for me. I worked so hard to stay and to help the team and the
11:37club to be
11:38successful like we did last season. So same for this year. I want to be important. I work every day
11:47for it. So I want to help the team and like I said, all the new players to join the
11:56club to be successful
11:57together. I think that's the first and the most important thing as a player for this club.
12:06Emi, a lot has been spoken about the impact on the field of the players who've left. I just wondered
12:13from a human perspective and a personal perspective, how has it been to see friends and teammates that
12:20you've had for a long time leave? Yeah, it's not easy because I think we share many years together.
12:28We share experiences, but it is football and football change constantly. So now we have, I think,
12:36new players seeing some experience, like the manager said, with Goretzka and other young talents playing
12:44in big teams as well with great experiences as well. So I think the future is clear for the club
12:52with these young players. I think they're developed and they are in a great place to develop well and to
12:59improve because they are good players in the present and they can be a huge players in the future for
13:08the
13:08next year for the club. After the point at the weekend, does it just feel like you need a victory
13:15maybe just to go on a run like you did maybe last season? Yes, it's not the start that we
13:21wanted,
13:21but we are working for it. We try to get the positive things for every match. We work hard to
13:28get the
13:29first victory and tomorrow, like I said, it's a really good test in Europe trying to get and change
13:37this momentum in terms of result and trying to get obviously the best of our confidence back to
13:44to perform well and get the results we want.
13:53Hi Unai, the other day I think you suggested Johan Manzambi maybe could feature this week just
13:58whereabouts has he travelled? No, he's progressing very good. The doctor is giving us the last information
14:09about how he's progressing medically and normally in a few days after tomorrow, I don't know,
14:20for Saturday or for the next week, he will be available if everything is going well, like until now is.
14:31Okay, thank you. See you tomorrow. Thank you.
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