Unai Emery reveals Aston Villa non-negotiables.
Birmingham Live: Aston Villa News
Unai Emery talks to Aston Villa fans about why his players need to keep getting better every day
Unai Emery says he can’t control how Aston Villa’s players live their lives but insists they must be ready to sacrifice everything to improve as players.
Since replacing Steven Gerrard at the helm of Villa Park, Emery has made a lasting impression on the club. The Spaniard has taken Villa from 17th in the league to European football, with a bid for the Champions League this season on the horizon.
While Emery couldn’t simply inherit a group of players and work his magic, he did need a squad willing to listen and buy into his way of doing things.
Speaking ahead of Villa’s match against Man City on Wednesday – which provides Emery’s side with the opportunity to equal the club’s record of 14 wins in a row at home – he insists they must remain focused solely on football in order to stay among the elite.
If players want to dedicate their lives to football, they can always improve their attitudes, said Emery. “It’s not just when they’re here at training ground, it’s important they have that same attitude when they’re at home.”
He added, “My idea is the same, to try and introduce and be challenging in our way of life, because your way of life is, at the end of the day, being involved in the mental aspect of football, the high level of commitment you have with your club and your teammates. Be humble and accept whatever you can to improve, whatever the coach is trying to improve you with. I’m really proud of the players here. It’s not 100 percent, but it’s clear what I’m trying to do and how I’m trying to go about it. Some are doing it better than others, but everyone is trying to do it the same way.”
He added, “I will never be a police officer in their private lives, but my advice and the only way to stay with us is to focus on football. Think about football. Of course it is important to relax and to come here with focus in practice, focus in our moments preparing for the match, focus in our meetings and then try to relax.
Encourage players to feel comfortable playing with a solid structure, as it can be difficult for players to get results on their own without a strong structure or without help from other players to make them feel comfortable. We understand that one player may not be performing at their best, but we and the other players will always support and cover for one player when they are not performing at their best. For example, against Nottingham Forest, Emiliano Martinez made some mistakes, and he was the first to tell us about them ahead of the other players. We are always there to support each player when he makes a mistake, and he is mature enough to accept that. It is also important for players to be mature and responsible in their personal lives.
