Unai Emery expressed satisfaction with Aston Villa’s performance after his side sealed a 1-0 win at Lille in the first leg of their Europa League Round of 16 on Thursday.
The Premier League side moved one step closer the quarterfinals with a crucial away win which puts them in firm control of the tie heading into the second leg.
Emery also became the fifth Aston Villa manager to reach 100 wins at the club and the fastest to achieve the feat, doing so after only 181 matches.
Speaking after the match, the Spaniard expressed satisfaction with his player’s performance in the very important win.
“We played very seriously, we were always organised and we played trying to defend strongly, trying to feel comfortable defending as well, and trying to get some transition with the ball and to dominate with the ball – and we did it”, Emery admitted.
“We respect this competition because we know the difficulties of each match in Europe, away, and how it is for the English teams, like in the Champions League, how they were struggling.
“Didn’t create a lot of chances, but some clear chances to score. I am happy with how the players responded to the game plan we did and how we are respecting and understanding the difficulties we can have, in case we are not playing seriously”, the former Arsenal manager added.
Aston Villa had won just one of their last seven games across all competitions, but Ollie Watkins goal in the second half sealed the win this time around.
The England striker’s looping header in the 61st minute, puts his side in firm control of the tie ahead of the return leg at Villa Park next Thursday.
“After it, we need their skills and the capacity to do something, adding for the team individually or collectively, and we must add numbers from the players, like today with Watkins. We need to add numbers with Morgan (Rogers), with (Jadon) Sancho, with Leon Bailey, with (Emiliano) Buendia, with the midfielders”, Emery added.
“I am happy, but we know in the dressing room that it is the first leg. This result, 1-0, is good but we are going to play another 90 minutes, respecting them like we did today to play with this result.”
Aston Villa will turn their attention to the Premier League this weekend, where they face Manchester United in the battle for top-four.
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