Villa's Unai Emery and Ollie Watkins on UCL game v Bayern Munich
01/10/2024
uefa24
Aston villa training ground, Birmingham, UK
01/10/2024
uefa24
Aston villa training ground, Birmingham, UK
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00Okay, we'll kick off with Skye, it's all in, so there's no separate written one today,
00:29so we'll kick off with, if you raise your hand, I'll come to you as best we can, okay?
00:34So we'll start off with Kirstie, why don't you go on.
00:36Hi, you know, for you, your first home game in the Champions League, a huge occasion,
00:46what will your message be to your players heading into such a big night for the club?
00:53Good afternoon, my idea is to try to get something natural, hopefully we can play more time in the Champions League,
01:05but of course it's the first match after a long time, or maybe when it's a new competition,
01:10the Champions League, before it was the Coupe d'Europe, and we are motivated,
01:16and we are so excited to play tomorrow with our supporters in Villapark, this scenario, this match,
01:26remembering as well the final in the Coupe d'Europe played against them 42 years ago,
01:33but now, in this moment in our process, we have to try to play one match more,
01:42and of course it's one of the best teams in the world, and maybe a favourite with another 3 or 4 teams to win this competition,
01:56but I want to play matches like that, and I want to play consistent matches like that,
02:05and of course we are in the Premier League, and in the Premier League we are facing teams like them,
02:11favourites, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal I think, they can win this competition this year,
02:21and they can be favourites with another team like Bayern Munich,
02:27but playing in Europe, of course we are very very happy to face Bayern Munich here at home,
02:37and hopefully we can enjoy tomorrow, and hopefully we can compete and show our best tomorrow against them.
02:46Harry Kane has been training with them, so it looks like good news on that front for Bayern,
02:53and in terms of your team news, not so good news without your captain John McGinn,
02:59how big a blow for such a huge game for you and the club, and for him as well?
03:06Dangerous players, I know it's the worst for them at the beginning,
03:12and with these circumstances playing in the Champions League, of course every player wants to play matches like that,
03:21but we have to accept it, and I want the best players on the field tomorrow,
03:28and I want to face their best players, and I want to play with our best players,
03:34but accepting we have some players injured, but we are ready to compete.
03:41Mike O'Neill.
03:43Compared to, say, a year ago, your squad looks deeper.
03:49Do you feel it's deeper and gives you more options now for a week where you've got three games very quickly like this one?
03:56And was that the plan in the summer?
04:00It depends, but at the beginning we tried to get the rules in the summer,
04:11and of course we are starting to add two players more, like Kamara and Tyrone Minks,
04:25and with the players we have in the squad I am very happy,
04:29and we are going to play a lot of matches, hopefully more and more than previous matches we have,
04:39and it depends on each match, it depends on how we are getting the balance,
04:49playing matches with minutes, with some players injured, with some players maybe tired,
04:54but we are at the beginning of the season, we are building the team,
04:58we are building the team, the plan is building the team with the players we have,
05:02and some players are progressively feeling comfortable and understanding our tactical idea,
05:14our demands, and it's a process, but every player at the beginning,
05:22they will have opportunities to play and moments to play.
05:28I know, listening to you last year going around Europe, I know you know football history very well,
05:35and I know you know why the history of this club matters so much to the fans who will be there tomorrow.
05:41Do you think modern players understand it in the same way?
05:45Do you think they get why, especially this game in 1982, it matters here especially?
05:51We have players with experiences in Europe, we have one of them,
05:57he played the final last year with Borussia Dortmund,
06:00and we have some players, winners before in other teams, winning trophies,
06:10and for example as well, Pau Torres, he played the semi-final three years ago in Liverpool in this competition.
06:17And the best experiences we can add to try to learn quick playing in Europe
06:27is the experiences we had last year in the Conference League, and it's a process.
06:34Of course, some of them are going to debut tomorrow in the Champions League,
06:40and it's very good news for the club, for them, for me as well.
06:46I'm not playing for the first time in the Champions League,
06:49but playing in a role like I have played for 16 years in Europe, for me, it's not changing my idea.
07:00My idea is to have to compete in the Champions League,
07:03we have to enjoy this way in the Champions League,
07:05we have to try to set each match, playing, focusing this competition to try to get a good way there.
07:17But the most important thing is to be consistent in the season,
07:21and the Premier League is the first objective.
07:24And tomorrow we are playing a special, special match for everybody,
07:28but I am preparing the match the same as I prepared on Sunday against Ipswich.
07:35Do you feel under any pressure Aston Villa don't lose to Bayern Munich?
07:39They have a very good record, unbeaten.
07:42Myself?
07:43No, Aston Villa against Bayern Munich, they have a very good record, because of 1982.
07:49They don't lose to them.
07:59It's a joke.
08:03If Aston Villa was not playing since 1982 against Bayern Munich, it's not good news.
08:11It's very bad news.
08:13But that is why the fans are so excited.
08:15Yes, yes, but you are asking me something I don't understand, really.
08:20I don't understand.
08:22What does it mean?
08:23I don't understand.
08:25What does it mean?
08:26Because we are speaking here, we are very motivated,
08:29because we are coming back to Europe last year in the Conference League,
08:33this year in the Champions League.
08:34And of course, Aston Villa was not playing against Bayern Munich 40 years ago.
08:42But it's not good news, it's very bad.
08:46I think Europe is something very, very important, but very, very difficult.
08:53And this is the challenge we have now.
08:56And of course, tomorrow they are favourites.
08:59They are very, very favourites than us.
09:01But we are playing at home with our supporters.
09:04And even I played, because I was understanding maybe for myself,
09:07I played two times against them, and we competed before with the team
09:13we were the coaches playing against them.
09:16But tomorrow I want to play and I want to compete against them.
09:19And I want to face them, being competitive and showing our best tomorrow.
09:25But if the result they are in, it's because Aston Villa didn't play.
09:32What does it mean to you to be involved in the Champions League
09:34and taking on one of the best teams in the world?
09:38It's a challenge.
09:41For myself it's a challenge.
09:42And I told yesterday the players, after the match we played on Sunday
09:48and during and between the match we are going to play on Sunday
09:52against Manchester United.
09:55We are playing in England against the best team in the world.
09:59And we are playing consistently.
10:01And we are showing our capacity against them.
10:04Now we are going to face against one of the best teams in Europe as well.
10:09At the beginning we played against Young Boys,
10:12we are playing now against Bayern Munich,
10:14we are going to play against Bologna,
10:16we are going to play against Juventus.
10:17Maybe Juventus and Bayern Munich are the two teams in the same level.
10:22They are here, Manchester United or Tottenham or Arsenal or Liverpool.
10:27But we are not playing against those teams in Europe.
10:30Consistency. And this is the objective.
10:33And how is my expectation?
10:34My expectation is to try to compete against them,
10:39being competitive and really getting our best performances.
10:44And like that, how we can be with the possibility to get good results.
11:11Of course football is mistakes.
11:14And we have to accept when we are making mistakes.
11:18And starting for me, as a coach,
11:21every match I am trying to be humble to identify my mistakes.
11:28When I am analysing tactically,
11:31when I am analysing as well my decision during the match.
11:35And then after my responsibility,
11:38of course try to identify and to correct those mistakes each match.
11:44Try to correct quickly and don't repeat it as much.
11:49And with the players it is the same.
11:51The same circumstances like with me.
11:54I am trying to identify overall the mistakes we are getting in each match.
12:03Tactically with the team and as well deeply
12:08when there are some mistakes coming from the individual players.
12:15But never punishing, making mistakes the players for the next matches.
12:23And trying always to correct working through video,
12:27working in the pitch with the players, with the team.
12:31And on Sunday every mistake we made,
12:37we were working yesterday morning.
12:40And of course I want to try to correct firstly practicing
12:47and secondly hopefully tomorrow on the field.
13:01How do you rate him as a coach and do you think he has the potential
13:06to have a really good coaching career?
13:10I knew him last year here with Barley,
13:15but his career is very recognised as a player, as a professional in football.
13:22And as a coach he started 2-3 years ago.
13:26And he worked in Manchester City with Guardiola.
13:30And more or less he is being successful so quick starting as a coach.
13:37Because with his experiences and with the experience working with Guardiola
13:42in Manchester City, I think everything I watched of him as a coach,
13:48Barley now in Bayern Munich, is really a huge work.
13:54I think as a coach he will have a very good future.
13:59And he is starting to be successful, but not now.
14:02Even with Barley when he promoted.
14:04Last year was difficult because it's difficult with Barley
14:08at the beginning forward to relegate.
14:13Again, he didn't achieve it.
14:15He didn't achieve to keep the Premier League.
14:18But I always respect him a lot as a coach because always
14:23the two matches we played, even winning was very difficult matches.
14:27And I identified quick his hand with the team.
14:34And with Bayern Munich I think with the players they have,
14:40for him it's easier to get the level they will want to have
14:49in their league and in the Champions League.
14:52And they started really winning matches with a very good result,
14:57playing very well.
14:59And tomorrow, I know, it's a big challenge for us to try to stop them.
15:04Be competitive to adapt to their tactical idea.
15:09Try to avoid their tactical idea imposing us.
15:14And we have to try to be as well competitive imposing our game plan.
15:19This is the really amazing work we have as coaches.
15:24How we can prepare, how we can set our game plan imposing against the opponent.
15:31But tomorrow, facing them, more difficult.
15:43Mati is starting training with us.
15:47But for tomorrow, it's not time to fit him to play even one minute.
15:59He's not going to be available for tomorrow.
16:02And other players, Kamara and Tyrone Mane, they are training with us
16:08but they are not going to play tomorrow.
16:10And other players at the beginning, they are okay.
16:12But we worked yesterday morning.
16:15We are going to train now at 5 o'clock.
16:18And hopefully, we will be available, the players we are.
16:42Yes, yes, definitely.
16:44Definitely, we are not defending like last year.
16:48And it's not for the defend player, it's not for the goalkeeper, it's for everybody.
16:54My first defender, they are the strikers.
16:58And my first attacking player is the goalkeeper.
17:02And we have to work improving and trying to correct quick some mistakes we are making.
17:09And the first year, we had to get strongly our way improving
17:17because we can't concede the goal we are conceding each match we are playing.
17:24And I am positive and of course I believe in our work, how we are doing.
17:30But if we want to keep to be in the top level, we are scoring goals
17:36but we are conceding more goals than normal.
17:40Harry Kane has started the season on fire again with 10 goals.
17:45What is it that he brings the danger to you and how do you play against him?
17:54We analyse firstly the tactical idea collectively
17:59and then of course we have to try to stop the individual players.
18:02But we have Harry Kane, of course he knows us and we know him.
18:06But his capacity and potential is going to be tomorrow on the field.
18:11And we have to try to stop him.
18:13And then as well, they have a very good structure tactically.
18:17Playing in combination even, the goalkeeper is the first player playing in combination
18:22and trying to do superiority building up.
18:25They have two strong central backs.
18:28And they have good midfielders, they have good wingers, good strikers.
18:34Of course we have to try to stop them collectively and then individually.
18:40And there are going to be a lot of duels on the field.
18:43A lot of duels.
18:45And we have to be alert, focused and beating them as well sometimes on the field.
18:52This is the way we want to win.
18:57I take it you would have watched the game against Leverkusen.
19:00Were you encouraged by how Leverkusen frustrated Bayern?
19:06Bayern Leverkusen are playing very well.
19:09I watched this match and it's something as well as a guide for us,
19:16how they played against them.
19:18They drew with the salt.
19:20But of course we have different players, we have different styles,
19:24we have different structure tactically.
19:26We want to try to adapt the tactical idea and then impose our idea.
19:32But of course some guides we can have.
19:35I am using some clicks to show the players for the last matches they played.
19:42One of those matches is the match they played against Bayern Leverkusen.
19:48Okay, thank you so much.
20:25Right.
20:27Good afternoon.
20:28Oh God, I went Wiltshire then, didn't I?
20:30Sorry.
20:31Hello everyone.
20:33Unlike the manager's one, it's not on the split, it's broadcast or written.
20:38So just a brief roll.
20:40We'll do about ten minutes first if you want to start.
20:43Hi, how are you?
20:44Good, how are you?
20:45Good, thank you.
20:47How much are you looking forward to tomorrow night?
20:50The kind of nights that players dream of?
20:52Yeah, really exciting for me, myself personally, for my journey and also the club.
20:58It's been a long time since obviously Champions League nights have been at Villa Park.
21:03So yeah, I think everyone's excited, looking forward to it.
21:07And yeah, I can't wait to be out there on the pitch.
21:10Harry Kane has been training with Bayern.
21:13They're playing, you know, well of course.
21:15How big a threat will he be if he is on the pitch tomorrow?
21:19Yeah, I think it's pretty self-explanatory really.
21:24Hey, he's a top player and everyone knows what he's capable of.
21:28He's shown what he can do over the previous season.
21:32So everyone knows his threat.
21:34But also the whole Bayern team, they're one of the best teams in the competition.
21:42And we all know that.
21:44So yeah, it's nothing new for us.
21:45And for you, a chance to put yourself on the European map, on the biggest stage possible?
21:53Yeah, don't get me wrong.
21:55Champions League is the biggest stage and that's what everyone's looking forward to.
22:00Like I said, and I've explained, but also the Premier League is, you know, tough as well.
22:07We play against Man City at Arsenal.
22:09The teams that are top of the league, that are, you know, fighting week in, week out,
22:15showing what they can do.
22:17So yeah, I think it's obviously going to be similar,
22:20but just a different experience with Bayern for us,
22:26seeing as we haven't played them before.
22:28Can we do a hands-up system perhaps, please?
22:31Do you think Harry Kane gets the respect he deserves coming from Wollongong?
22:35Do you think Harry Kane gets the respect he deserves coming from Wollongong?
22:39Obviously you play with him, you'll know how good he is,
22:41but is everybody aware of how good he's been?
22:44Yeah, I think so.
22:47I can only say from what I've seen and played with him and trained with him,
22:53he's got the records and scored the amount of goals he has for a reason.
22:57And he's well talked about.
22:58So, yeah, I don't think he's...
23:03I think he gets all the credit he deserves,
23:05and he's put in a lot of hard work over the years to get there.
23:08So, yeah, I feel like he's got that.
23:16It's switched down, Bayern Munich, a couple of different challenges.
23:22Do you think the team is ready to consistently play both of them?
23:26And doing all the things that you're supposed to do,
23:30and obviously get up and down with the mentality that you require
23:34to play both competitions at the same level?
23:36I think it's something that we prepared for last year.
23:41We were playing in Europe and it's different playing in the Premier League
23:45and then switching to Europe.
23:48Obviously that was new for us last year, but I think we're ready,
23:53we've done that now.
23:54And, yeah, we've got the manager that we trust,
23:59who's been there, experienced it all,
24:01and he has us focused on the next game and ready.
24:06We're here today training to prepare for Bayern.
24:09And, yeah, he always has us focused on the next game
24:13and the next task at hand.
24:16Anyone else?
24:18It's fair to say you're a fan's favourite already,
24:21but scoring on a night like tomorrow night
24:22truly is the football folklore.
24:25We're talking about fans across the ground, murals.
24:27It really is special for the fans tomorrow.
24:30Yeah, I think whoever scores, no-one really matters
24:35as long as the ball goes in the back of the net.
24:37But I think these are the nights we all dreamt of,
24:43especially since I've come here and arrived.
24:46Playing Champions League football for Villa is the best thing.
24:52It's the best thing it can get, really.
24:54So I think we're all just going to go out there, enjoy it,
24:57and not make the most of it,
25:02because it sounds like we're here just for
25:04underestimating ourselves.
25:06But, you know, just enjoy it,
25:08because it's been so long since the club has been involved
25:11in a competition like this.
25:13And for me personally,
25:15I haven't experienced Champions League football before.
25:17So, yeah, just to enjoy it.
25:19And these are the times I've dreamt of as a kid.
25:22The atmosphere must be crackling as well.
25:24It's 1982, there's all the history,
25:26it's the first one as well.
25:28Very, very special occasion for you, for everybody.
25:30Yeah, last year we experienced, obviously in Europe,
25:34that was the first time for a while,
25:36so this is one better.
25:38So I know what the atmosphere was like last year,
25:41so I'm expecting it to probably be topped,
25:43just a little bit.
25:46Can I just ask, is there an opportunity or a risk
25:49that you might get a road by the occasion tomorrow?
25:52Everyone's talking it's the biggest Champions League
25:54game of the week, Bayern Munich are in town.
25:56Like you said, there's not a lot of Champions League
25:59experience in this squad.
26:01Is there a chance of a road with the occasion
26:03for anyone to be in?
26:05No, I don't think so.
26:07Obviously players have played Champions League
26:09from the squad, but at different clubs.
26:12So we do have that experience there.
26:15But look, we've got, we're in the best hands
26:17possible.
26:19Our manager has experienced and won a lot of trophies
26:23and obviously managed a lot of Champions League games.
26:26So we have all faith in him, but also faith in the squad
26:32and confidence that when we play our best football
26:36we can put anyone to the test and perform.
26:39So don't get me wrong, the fans are going to be excited,
26:42us as players will be, but it's more excitement
26:45and looking forward to it rather than pressure
26:49and crumbling I would say.
26:51Hi Arne, in your heart of hearts when you signed
26:55three or four years ago now, did you actually,
26:58it's easy to say you've dreamed of it,
27:00we'd probably all, I still dream of that one.
27:03In your heart of hearts, given the fact it's only
27:06two years, it's less than two years
27:08until you actually came here,
27:10did you actually really and truly believe
27:12that you'd be sitting here?
27:14No, not for one minute.
27:17When the manager first came in after we had just
27:21lost to Newcastle and we were towards the bottom
27:23of the league, never did I think we would finish
27:26that season seventh and then go on to finish fourth.
27:31I don't think anyone would have said that,
27:33completely turned us around as players and the club.
27:38So full credit to him and obviously us as players
27:43but I never dreamt of that to be honest.
27:47Is it a pinchery moment really,
27:49tomorrow night before you get out?
27:51Not a pinchery moment as in,
27:54just more a pinchery moment when we look back
27:58at how quickly everything has turned around
28:01and since he's set foot in the door it's been
28:05so positive, we've won more than we've lost
28:09and we're only getting better and improving
28:11and it's just a lovely place to be at the club,
28:15especially as a player but also for the fans
28:19and people outside the club to see the stature
28:24of this club improving and getting better
28:28day by day, each week.
28:30So yeah, it's a nice place to be.
28:32Just very quickly, are you the first Devonian
28:34to play in the Champions League?
28:36I don't know, who's the stat man in this room?
28:39They'll probably know that.
28:41I don't know.
28:43Trevor Francis.
28:45Trevor Francis again.
28:47Yeah, he did, Trevor Francis.
28:49So maybe second.
28:53What is it about Umar Ali?
28:56What's his secret?
28:58Because he speaks to all the players,
29:00everyone else and you can't speak highly enough of him.
29:03What is the magic?
29:05You've probably seen from his interviews,
29:08he's very demanding, focused.
29:11He does what he wants.
29:13He puts in a lot of hard work, obviously.
29:17You hear about professionals putting in work off the field
29:20and training, doing extras.
29:22I think that's the same thing for him.
29:24He's in it early, leaves late.
29:26He's so focused and demanding,
29:30that's all I can say.
29:32And the small details.
29:34He always respects everyone as a team,
29:37no matter the league position.
29:38I think that's probably his biggest strength,
29:42just respecting everyone
29:44and knowing that they're capable of creating problems
29:48when you play them.
29:50You've spent the summer training with Harry Kane
29:53and being in his company.
29:55You're a team-mate but you're also the guy
29:58that's trying to take his place, if you like.
30:00What's it like working with him all the time
30:03and being able to help your game?
30:05Is it like the goalkeepers' union,
30:06helping each other all the time?
30:11That's a tough question, to be honest.
30:14I think everyone's fighting for a position on the pitch.
30:20Obviously, I want to be the man to play.
30:26Everyone is.
30:28But day in, day out, we have a good relationship.
30:31When I'm in the camp, I speak to him.
30:36I don't have bad animosity or anything like that.
30:38I'm doing all I can to be on the pitch.
30:43Is there one thing from his game
30:47that you would like to take for yourself?
30:50Also, do you target that World Cup in two years' time
30:55to be ahead of him by then?
30:57I'm just trying to work on myself,
31:00improve day by day,
31:02do the extra work I can to perform well for my team
31:09and help us score, create goals,
31:13help my team-mates assist,
31:15and see where that gets me.