Unai Emery: Aston Villa fans should temper expectations despite promising start

BIRMINGHAM – Aston Villa is off to a flying start in their first Champions League campaign in over four decades, securing three wins and three clean sheets. The momentum is undeniably strong for the Midlands club, but manager Unai Emery urges fans to keep their feet on the ground and not get ahead of themselves. While the excitement is palpable, Emery remains focused on taking things one game at a time.

His side beat Serie A side Bologna 2-0 at a raucous Villa Park on Oct 22, with second-half goals from John McGinn and Jhon Duran to sit provisionally top of the table – a lofty position fans might not have foreseen when Europe’s elite competition kicked off.

“In case we are keeping the same (winning) performance, we are getting and getting points through it, of course, we can change our objective and to be the top eight,” Emery said.

“But I want to feel it is like a natural way we are doing it, and not a surprise, because we are playing good... we are being consistent and we are getting points, and we are feeling comfortable.”

The top eight in the new 36-team league phase automatically qualify for the last 16, while the next 16 compete in a two-legged play-off to join them in the knockout stage proper.

Villa, who face Club Brugge next, are the only team with three wins and three clean sheets so far, with another nine matches to come on Oct 23, after press time.

Asked if he felt a sense of satisfaction about the clean sheets, Emery said: “Yes. But most of all for (goalkeeper) Emiliano Martinez, very happy. He’s pushing a lot for clean sheets. But really, this is the consequence, we were playing seriously, we were playing organised and being disciplined tactically as well.”

Villa had a flurry of chances before McGinn scored in the 55th minute, when he sent a free kick sailing over a sea of heads and into the far corner. They doubled the lead nine minutes later, when Morgan Rogers lifted a cross towards the box and the lunging Duran held off defender Jhon Lucumi to flick the ball into the bottom corner.

The Colombian was substituted for Ollie Watkins right after his goal and was visibly livid over Emery’s decision when he trudged off the pitch. The Spanish manager said he had no issues with the player’s behaviour, calling Duran’s performance on the night “fantastic”.

Said Emery: “I am managing everything and the action of the players as well, but we are sending the message in the dressing room, respect our values and try to be mature and responsible. Sometimes someone, because he’s not the only one, sometimes they are reacting a little bit, but it’s under my control.”

Bologna, meanwhile, have one point from two losses and a draw, and one win in 11 games in all competitions this season.

“I was talking to the lads, we all have to give something more, starting with me,” coach Vincenzo Italiano said.

“We need to take care of all the details because we created the chances today, and it wasn’t enough. If someone thinks they have already given 100 per cent, then they need to raise that a bit more from tomorrow.”