Unai Emery Downplays Title Talk for Aston Villa Despite Strong Performance
Manager Unai Emery has stated that any discussions regarding the title "do not make sense" for Aston Villa, despite the team's impressive form.
Under Emery's leadership, Villa has matched a club record with 11 consecutive wins across all competitions, including eight in the Premier League, where they currently sit in third place.
The team is just three points behind Arsenal and will face the Gunners, Emery's former club, on Tuesday at 20:15 GMT. However, the head coach remains cautious about Villa's title aspirations.
He remarked, "To speak about the title does not make sense for us. Now, in December, it does not make sense. We are motivated and excited, but for the moment, our focus is on the match we play tomorrow. With three points separating us from them, this is our motivation."
Emery expressed pride in the team's performances, stating, "With how we are performing, we can feel proud of everything we are building—tactically, mentally, and individually. We are trying to foster a family environment here, as we spend more time together than with our own families."
He acknowledged the upcoming challenge, saying, "The next challenge is very difficult; it is the toughest we can face now because it’s against the best team."
Villa's recent 2-1 comeback victory against Chelsea has placed them seven points ahead of fourth-placed Liverpool and ten points clear of Chelsea in fifth.
Earlier this month, Emi Buendia's last-minute winner secured a thrilling victory against Arsenal, and Emery is mindful of the Gunners' potential response at the Emirates.
"We must be proud of everything we’re doing, but we also need to remain humble and confident while being ambitious," the 54-year-old coach said. "Arsenal are playing fantastically, becoming stronger in every aspect. They are improving continuously, and we are highly motivated for this upcoming match against them. For Arsenal, it is crucial to respond after our victory a few weeks ago, as they will likely want to demonstrate their strength against us."
Emery concluded, "This is the next step forward. Our test will be how we can confront them with our structure."