The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Unai Emery

  • Emery wants to turn Villa into European force

    Emery wants to turn Villa into European force

    Unai Emery says he wants to turn Aston Villa into consistent trophy contenders and regulars in Europe as he prepares his side for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Club Brugge.

    Villa have one foot in the quarter-finals after last week’s 3-1 win in Belgium and they aim to finish the job at Villa Park tonight.

    It has been a dream return to Europe’s top club competition after decades away for the 1982 continental champions but Emery is hungry for more, with a potential quarter-final tie looming against Liverpool or Paris Saint-Germain.

     “To play in the Champions League has been fantastic, but my objective is to be consistent playing in Europe and the Champions League,” the Spaniard said.

    Read Also: NFF  to release  Chelle’s 23 men  for Rwanda, Zimbabwe tomorrow

     “Everything we are achieving is because we are in a new way. It’s a new demand, starting from the owners, starting from the club, starting with everything we are trying to set inside.”

    The former PSG and Arsenal boss said when he arrived at Villa in 2022 his first objective was to qualify for European competition.

    “We got it last year and this year,” he said. “To be contenders for a trophy, last year we were contenders in the Conference League but we lost in the semi-final. This year, we’re in the FA Cup and Champions League as well.

    “Everything we are doing, hopefully we can keep it for a long time. This is the challenge.

     “I know after the club won the European Cup they were for a long time not achieving the demands we are now setting in the club – to be in Europe, to be a contender for trophies.

     “Everything we are doing is important, but I want more.”

    Emery has a rich pedigree in European competition, winning the Europa League three times with Sevilla and triumphing again with Villarreal.

    Villa put themselves in pole position against Club Brugge with two goals in the final 10 minutes in Belgium last week but Emery insists the tie is not over.

     “Nothing changes,” he said. “We are respecting them a lot, we have our own experiences, myself and the players in their career. Anything can happen tomorrow.”

    Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and winger Marco Asensio are available again after they missed the weekend win at Brentford.

    Midfielder Amadou Onana is also back in the frame but Ross Barkley continues to miss out.

  • Emery eyes Villa’s revival  slump against Juventus

    Emery eyes Villa’s revival  slump against Juventus

    Unai Emery has challenged Aston Villa to end their dismal run by claiming another memorable Champions League scalp against “historic” Italian giants Juventus tonight.

    Emery’s side started the season strongly in the Premier League and won their first three Champions League games, including an impressive 1-0 victory at home against Bayern Munich.

    But Villa’s form has dipped alarmingly and they have failed to win any of their past six games in all competitions.

    They sit in eighth position in the revamped league phase of Europe’s elite club competition – with a top-eight finish earning automatic qualification for the last 16.

    Villa boss Emery warned that Juventus would be a tough proposition, calling them one of the superpowers of European football.

    But, despite Villa’s recent woes, the Spaniard believes they are capable of getting back on track at the expense of the two-time Champions League winners.

     “It’s a team with Real Madrid in Spain, Bayern Munich in Germany, Paris Saint-Germain in France and Juventus,” he said. “They are maybe one of the best teams in the world, historically and now.

    Read Also: NFF congratulates Felix Owolabi on 70th anniversary

     “To watch them at Villa Park in a match we have tomorrow is fantastic. And we want to compete.”

    Emery’s message to fans was to enjoy the occasion.

     “We want to enjoy competing and we want to enjoy winning,” he said. “We are here in the Champions League, trying to be consistent.

     “Hopefully, we can play a lot of years again in the Champions League but the reality is, now is the moment we have to enjoy, we have to compete, we have to face Juventus tomorrow, we have to try to face them being competitive.”

    Emery said he liked the longer group stage, now with eight matches, as it gave teams opportunities to recover from poor results, but he still expected the top teams to progress.

     “Tomorrow, they are a very important three points, of course, but if we are not winning and only taking one point, it is good,” he said.

     “In the table, we are in a top-eight position and the objective is to be in the next round. We have a possibility to be in a top-eight position and we are going to try to get it.”

  • UCL: Emery fancies ‘special’ Villa to edge Bayern in Birmingham

    UCL: Emery fancies ‘special’ Villa to edge Bayern in Birmingham

    Unai Emery is hoping Aston Villa can summon the spirit of the club’s 1982 European Cup final win over Bayern Munich when the German giants visit Birmingham in the Champions League today.

    Villa’s return to the top level of European football after a 41-year wait began successfully with a 3-0 win at Swiss side Young Boys two weeks ago.

    But Villa Park’s first taste of the competition since it was re-branded as the Champions League brings back memories of the club’s greatest-ever night.

    Villa upset the odds to beat a mighty Bayern side, featuring club legends Paul Breitner and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, 1-0 in Rotterdam.

     “It is a special, special match for everyone,” said Emery at his pre-match press conference. “We are motivated and so excited to play tomorrow with our supporters in Villa Park. Remembering as well the final that Villa played against them 42 years ago.”

    Emery, who has won the Europa League four times in his managerial career, has inspired a phenomenal turnaround in Villa’s fortunes since taking charge less than two years ago.

    They were battling relegation from the Premier League when the Spaniard replaced Steven Gerrard, but rose to finish seventh in Emery’s first season to qualify for the Europa Conference League.

    Villa reached the semi-finals in their first experience of European football for 13 years and secured a top-four finish in the Premier League, above Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham, to qualify for the Champions League.

    Bayern, six-time European champions, are unbeaten in seven matches since Vincent Kompany took charge and Emery believes they are among the favourites to win the Champions League.

    But he is hoping his side can compete as they have done with the Premier League’s elite sides in recent seasons.

    Read Also: Ex-NFF boss Pinnick to speak on sports infrastructure maintenance in UI 

     “I want to play matches like this and I want to play consistently matches like this,” added Emery.

    “In the Premier League we are facing teams like them – Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal – that can win this competition this year. They are favourites with other teams like Bayern Munich.

     “Playing in Europe, we are very, very happy to face Bayern at home and hopefully we can enjoy tomorrow. Hopefully we can compete and show our best against them.”

    Kompany was a surprise choice by Bayern to succeed Thomas Tuchel after he oversaw Burnley’s relegation from the Premier League last season.

    However, Emery is not surprised at the fast start the former Manchester City captain has made to life in Germany.

     “I think he’s a coach that has a very good future and he started being successful with Burnley when he got promoted.

     “Last year was difficult with Burnley at the beginning, favourites to get relegated. He didn’t achieve to keep them in the Premier League, but I always respect him a lot as a coach because the two matches we played were very difficult.

     “With Bayern Munich and the players they have, I think it’s easier to get the level they will want to have in their league and in the Champions League. They have started winning matches with very good results, playing very well.”

  • My target is to recover confidence-Emery

    Unai Emery admits he has had to help his Arsenal players recover their confidence after consecutive defeats damaged their Champions League hopes.

    The Gunners suffered a surprise 3-2 home loss to Crystal Palace last weekend before slipping to a 3-1 reverse at Wolves on Wednesday.

    The results leave Arsenal fifth in the table, a point behind London rivals Chelsea in the final Champions League qualification spot.

    Another tricky trip lies ahead with a game at Leicester on Sunday and Emery conceded he has had to lift his squad before heading to the King Power Stadium.

    “The first target is to recover our confidence,” he said.

    “We can build on this confidence each minute, each hour, each day, each week – and above all we’re training and we’re looking for a big performance for the three points.

    “Individually for Sunday the first target is to think in our capacity and be consistent defensively and offensively.

    “We need to adapt to them, but I think both are very important. We need to prepare ourselves and also adapt for them.”

    Arsenal’s chances of leaving the East Midlands with a positive result could be boosted by the return of top goalscorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

    The Gabon striker was forced to miss the loss at Wolves after undergoing a small sinus procedure.

    Emery is unsure if Aubameyang will be available but is hopeful he will train on the eve of the game and push to be involved.

    “He trained today and if he can train tomorrow, I think we can think he’s ready for Sunday,” added the Spaniard.

    While Barcelona loanee Denis Suarez will also have a groin injury assessed, Aaron Ramsey will again miss out with a hamstring problem.

    The clash with Leicester was originally scheduled for Monday night but was rescheduled after Arsenal reached the semi-final of the Europa League – their first-leg tie at home to Valencia coming up on Thursday. (fourfourtwo)

  • Iwobi must stay calm – Emery

    Arsenal attacker, Alex Iwobi has received fresh tips from the club’s coach, Unai Emery, who believes the Super Eagles star needs to keep improving and always stay calm in front of goal.

    On the backdrop of rave reviews trailing Iwobi’s performance against Bournemouth in midweek, sports247.ng reported that Emery was happy to see the youngster staying consistent, but said he must work harder.

    Iwobi has made 24 appearances in the English Premier League so far this season, scoring three goals, but Emery stressed that The Gunners’ former U-21 team captain can do more.

    Emery said: “Iwobi can open space on the overlap for them. So I think Iwobi is giving a lot for us.

    “We want to play and we want to create our philosophy and I think that Iwobi is important, but he needs to carry on improving.

    Read also: Balogun still nursing injury

    “For us, we have to be demanding from him; and himself be desiring to improve the things that he can get better at in his qualities.

    “When he’s getting into the attacking third into the box, he be calm to decide the last action with assists and scoring more,” Emery said.

  • Ramsey to leave Arsenal for Juventus

    Arsenal midfielder, Aaron Ramsey has agreed to a five year deal with Italian giant Juventus, at the end of the 2018/2019 season.

    The deal is worth around 36 million pounds.

    Ramsey, who joined the Gunners from Cardiff in 2008, and scored 52 goals in 252 Premier League matches, will undergo a medical test on Sunday, after being told by Arsenal manager Unai Emery that he is not part of his plans at the Emirates.

    Read Also: Aaron Ramsey header hands Gunners FA Cup glory

    The deal is expected to be finalised after Juventus’ Super Cup fixture against AC Milan next Wednesday.

    It is reported that he will earn up to 140,000 pounds a week with the Italian club, which rounds up to 7.2 million pounds a season

    Major highlights for Ramsey at the Emirates will include his  winning goal in the FA Cup final against Hull City in 2014 and Chelsea in 2017, clinching three FA Cup titles in the process. He however had injury challenges, which turned out a dent in his career

  • Arsenal deny chief executive Gazidis resignation

    Arsenal FC of England has denied reports that its chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, has accepted an offer that would see him leave the club.

    Gazidis, who has enjoyed a stable tenure at the London club and built a cordial relationship with former coach Arsene Wenger, was reported to have decided to part ways with the club.

    He was rumoured to be heading to Italian giants AC Milan from the beginning of the 2018/2019 season.

    But according to a statement by Chips Keswick, Chairman of Arsenal Football FC, published on the club’s official website, the chief executive has no such offers.

    Read Also: Wenger regrets staying at Arsenal for 22 years

    He, however, admitted that Gazidis always receives luring offers due to his huge popularity.

    “We are aware of the speculation surrounding our chief executive Ivan Gazidis. We know he receives many offers from organisations inside and outside the game as he’s a hugely respected figure.

    “He has never accepted any of these opportunities and has never spoken about them publicly.

    “He has always been fully committed to taking Arsenal forward and is currently working hard in Singapore with new head coach Unai Emery as we prepare for the new season,” the statement said.

  • Arsenal appoint Emery as new manager

    Arsenal have appointed former Paris St Germain coach Unai Emery as the new manager of the club, with the Spaniard succeeding the long-serving Arsene Wenger, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday.

    Emery, who joined PSG in June 2016, left the French club at the end of this season, having led them to a domestic treble.

    The 46-year-old had previously guided Spanish side Sevilla to three Europa League titles.
    “Unai has an outstanding track record of success throughout his career.

    Read Also: Wenger urges successor to ‘respect’ Arsenal values

    “He has also developed some of the best young talents in Europe and plays an exciting, progressive style of football that fits Arsenal perfectly,” Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis said in a statement.

    “His hard work and passionate approach and his sense of value on and off the pitch make him the ideal person to take us forward,” Gazidis said.

    Wenger departed the North London club at the end of last season after nearly 22 years at the helm, helping the team capture three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups.

  • Splashing cash not enough for PSG to deliver in UEFA

    Splashing cash not enough for PSG to deliver in UEFA

    The early exit of Paris St Germain ( PSG ) from the UEFA Champions League again showed the club’s inability to deliver on the biggest stage in spite of their expensively-assembled team.

    The French League 1 leaders were knocked out in the last 16 by Real Madrid 5-2 on aggregate.

    They lost 1-2 at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Tuesday, never threatening a comeback following their 1-3 defeat in the first leg in Spain.

    Without Neymar, who is recovering from ankle surgery, Unai Emery’s side failed to create space against the defending champions.

    “All that for this,” wrote French sports daily L’Equipe on their front page.

    “PSG disappeared without leaving a trace,” the paper wrote in a column.

    Since Qatar Sports Investments ( QSI ) took over in 2011, PSG have never reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.

    The French champions were eliminated in the last 16 twice in a row after four consecutive quarter-final exits.

    Spending 400 million euros ( $497 million ) on Neymar and France international Kylian Mbappe did not help.

    The Brazilian played poorly in the first leg and his striking partner was nowhere to be seen on Tuesday.

    In Ligue 1 however, PSG lead the standings by a massive 14 points after 28 games.

    However, it could be said that they lack the competitiveness of a bigger league to prepare them for the Champions League knockout stage.

    Former AC Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi, however, believes the club founded in 1970 have to build their identity.

    Read Also: Heineken opens viewing centres for UEFA Champions League in Nigeria

    “PSG is just a group of players,” he told Italian TV.

    “You cannot buy ideas. The club should always come first. I thought I would see players with the bit between their teeth. I think PSG need to become an institution.”

    PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi said he was “disappointed by a few players,” among which should feature midfielder Marco Verratti, who picked up a second yellow card for arguing with referee Felix Brych.

    It was Verratti’s third dismissal in the Champions League, and it appeared to seal his team’s fate as they already were 1-0 down after Cristiano Ronaldo’s opener.

    Al-Khelaifi, however, is convinced the club’s method is the right one.

    “I don’t think it’s a mindset problem. The players believed in it and we were ready,” he said.

    “We will not change our investment strategy. We will continue with our project notably with those two players ( Neymar and Mbappe ) because they are the future of the club.”

    NAN

  • ‘We need God to beat Barca’

    ‘We need God to beat Barca’

    Spartak Moscow coach Unai Emery insists his side do not need “divine intervention” to beat Barcelona in the Champions League.

    Even though the trainer understands the difficulty of the task at hand, he believes there are ways to defeat the Catalans, and is determined to leave the Camp Nou victorious this week.

    “When you take on Barcelona, you have to call on divine intervention or luck to beat them. But there are teams that have managed to defeat them,” Emery told Marca.

    “So there are certainly ways to win against Barca. We all try to achieve it, but only the few chosen ones indeed beat them. We are working to become one of them.”

    Emery then went on to praise Lionel Messi, and stressed that the Argentine always seems to be in fine form.

    “Whenever Messi is on top of his game, which always appears to be the case, he makes the difference and can decide a game all by himself.”

    Messi has already netted 61 goals in 2012, and will be looking to add to his tally against Spartak.