![]() ![]() ![]() Possession has been a focus for Villa, not just the volume of it but the manner of it. Napoli are having a big impact in Europe. "Villarreal are playing a way I like with the ball. I have been following them." They have had 68 per cent of possession this season. "In Spain, there is a team in the second division, Andorra. There are other teams who are playing with very good ball possession, with patience as well, but Brighton are an example I like a lot. For example, now I am impressed with Brighton. "But I like to follow the characteristics of many different teams. They are showing a lot of emotion with the supporters. They are excited by this opportunity, very committed. The biggest thing is how they have created a small family with a good feeling together. "Of course, Arsenal are playing very well. He name-checks two former clubs, Arsenal and Villarreal, but there are many others mentioned too. "I take one or two days to visit my family, speak with friends." But what do they speak about? Football, he concedes.Įven his lengthy answer that begins with talk of "trying to switch off" soon morphs into a monologue about his current favourite teams to watch in Europe. Unai Emery says his side can now look to target a top-half finish in the Premier LeagueĮmery claims that "in an international break, I switch off my mind" but it soon emerges that his interpretation of a day off is a little different to others. My father was very disciplined every day in his coaching of a small team. ![]() The Basque people, usually, are responsible and serious. "I do not know exactly why that is but maybe it is the football there. Not just Emery but Mikel Arteta, Julen Lopetegui and Emery's former Real Sociedad team-mate Javi Gracia. ![]() One wonders whether it is a peculiarly Basque trait, this obsession, given that there are four Basque managers right now in the Premier League. I knew them perfectly, the good and the bad. I replaced the coach there in the middle of the season. "I was playing for a small club called Lorca on the Mediterranean coast. More players do that now, trying to prepare before they finish their career, but that was not normal in Spain at the time. I did the courses and I was ready to start my coaching career as soon as I finished playing. "I started thinking about coaching when I was very young. I enjoyed it as a player and I enjoy it even more as a coach. My only focus was football, football, football. At home, we were four brothers and we all played football but I was the most passionate about it. "My father and grandfather were goalkeepers in Spain. "That attention to detail is key." - Ezri KonsaĪsked to describe Emery in one word, John McGinn said: "Detailed."īut where does that obsession with detail come from? "It is incredible how he works on every detail." - Emi Buendia "Small tactical details." - Ollie Watkins "Every single player knows exactly what they need to do." - Leon Bailey "Such an impressive attention to detail." - Tyrone Mings But I want to help give them the details." In the end, their skill and their mentality is what matters. I am trying to learn and then to tell them. "Maybe John McGinn can do a different movement, maybe he can drop more. "I am adding details every day," he explains. Emery has found a receptive audience for a much greater volume of information. Some coaches believe that restricting their input to a few simple messages is the best way. He has found a group eager to learn, aching for instruction. Nine teams are in the relegation mix but Emery's Villa, with six wins already in 2023, are not among them. The result is that a team that had been out of the bottom three on goals scored when Steven Gerrard was sacked in October are now as close to fourth as twelfth. In defence, Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa look solid again, conceding only once in the last four matches. Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara are emerging as a top-class midfield partnership. With six goals in eight games, Ollie Watkins is in the form of his career. The impact on Aston Villa's players is undeniable. Get Sky Sports | Download the Sky Sports App. ![]()
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