Aston Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has acknowledged the formidable progress made by Chelsea under Mauricio Pochettino’s guidance.
Emery has cautioned his team that replicating their previous victory at Stamford Bridge in September will pose a greater challenge this Friday. Emery highlighted Chelsea’s tactical growth, emphasizing their comfort on the field.
“Chelsea is developing a lot; tactically, they look comfortable now. They’ve achieved success by reaching the final of the Carabao Cup, and their improvement in the league is evident. This upcoming match will be very difficult for us. Chelsea is a strong contender in this competition,” stated Emery.
As Villa enters the second half of the season, Emery is determined to compete on three fronts: securing a top-four finish, making strides in the FA Cup, and advancing in the Europa Conference League.
Reflecting on Villa’s current form, Emery noted their healthiest position in 15 years but emphasized the importance of not fixating on a single goal. Instead, he expressed a desire to attack every competition.
Emery outlined the team’s ambitious approach, stating, “We could end up playing 30 matches over the last four months of the season. We’ll be focused, competitive, and won’t waste any opportunity to improve. Playing in different competitions is essential, and each holds significant importance for us.” Villa is poised for an intense clash with Chelsea, anticipating a challenging but vital encounter in their pursuit of success across various competitions.