Unai Emery has outlined the challenge facing Aston Villa as they prepare to welcome Leeds United to Villa Park in the Premier League this weekend.
With Saturday’s afternoon kick-off approaching, Emery stressed focus, respect and consistency as his side look to get back on track.
“Even playing and winning against them (in November), they competed fantastic, and they were playing good football, and they were deserving more.
“After that match, maybe they changed the structure tactically with three centre-backs, and they are performing very well.
“They are being a team competing fantastic, and of course, they achieved some very important points against difficult teams like Chelsea away, like Liverpool away, Sunderland away, and they beat as well, some teams really playing fantastic, like Chelsea at home, or Fulham, or Nottingham Forest.
“I think now they are confident. They are feeling better than maybe three or four months ago, but they know how the difficulties to escape off the bottom of the table, because it’s so tight, the difference between the teams they are there.”
The gaffer added: “Of course, for us tomorrow is a massive respect to them, and prepare the game as better as possible, 90 minutes, knowing how they are performing, how they are competing, how they are feeling good as well, playing different ways.
“Sometimes they are playing in combination, sometimes they are playing low balls second action, attacking so quick.
“Sometimes they are getting duels defensively and man to man and sometimes they are getting low block and defending very well.
“They are really feeling confidence when we are analysing them and watching their games.”
With momentum and fine margins defining the Premier League run-in, Villa know they will need intensity, patience and discipline to turn possession into points and make home advantage count once more.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
