Aston Villa manager Unai Emery and midfielder John McGinn addressed the press on the eve of their crucial Europa League match against Lille.
Set against the backdrop of a promising 1-0 triumph in France last week, Aston Villa is poised to host Lille at Villa Park this Thursday, determined to capitalise on their slim aggregate lead.
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Villa’s momentum took a hit following a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday, while Lille comes into this fixture buoyed by a 2-1 victory over Rennes, setting the stage for an intriguing contest.
Consistency Key for Emery
Unai Emery, who recently became only the fifth manager in the club’s history to secure 100 wins, emphasised the importance of consistency ahead of this pivotal encounter. He acknowledged that the current lead is insufficient for comfort. “We won the first match, which is very important,” he stated. “It is not enough, I know it isn’t. Tomorrow is very important for us in this competition. We must achieve consistency, how we were two weeks ago… I want to be in and fight for the position we are in now.”
A Quest for Silverware
Joined by McGinn, Emery discussed a wider ambition: the thirst for a trophy, the club’s first since 1996. McGinn reflected on their near miss against Paris Saint-Germain, expressing the team’s desire to convert potential into tangible success. “We had that feeling at the end of the PSG game. I know we got a lot of plaudits from the two legs, but essentially we had failed in our task,” he noted. He further highlighted the team’s aspirations, stating, “We don’t want to be a maybe team; we want something to show for it. We know we’ve got an expectation; we’re one of the favourites to win the competition, we know that.”
