Emery and Youri Tielemans on Villa's Champions League return against Young boys
16/09/2024
UEFA24
16/09/2024
UEFA24
Category
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00:00If we're all ready to go, fire away.
00:26Do I need to wear this?
00:28Yeah, for translation, if you want.
00:36Hi Jürgen, what are your feelings going into Aston Villa's momentous first Champions League fixture?
00:42Obviously very happy. We achieved something really good last year, finishing fourth in the Premier League and now we're here playing Champions League.
00:51So, first game for all of us and we're really excited to get going in this competition.
01:00Was this what you expected when you joined the club or hoped for or dreamed of?
01:05Yeah, listen, there's always been an ambitious plan before I signed and that's why I bought into it and that's why I came to Aston Villa.
01:15Obviously, maybe earlier than expected in the project and in what they set out in their plan.
01:21But, listen, we've had some really good performances last year.
01:25Like I said, we achieved the fourth place in the Premier League and now we're here.
01:31So, yeah, we will try to make the most of it.
01:35Did Unai Emery specifically mention the Champions League when you signed at the start of last season?
01:43Individually he did, yeah, because that was one of his goals when he joined the club as well and that's how he set it out to me as well before signing.
01:58Yeah, it was a real big goal for him to achieve, which we did now, but now we want to carry on and we don't only want to participate in this, we really want to make our mark in the competition.
02:18I guess it's important to make a good start, isn't it, because you've got some big games against Bayern and Juventus to come.
02:25Yeah, definitely. I mean, we've got some really big games either away or at home and tomorrow is going to be the start of it.
02:32And, obviously, with this new format now, every game is really important with a points system.
02:37So, like I said, we want to make the most of it and hopefully we can get a win here, but it's going to be very difficult.
02:46Do you understand the new format? Because it's taken a bit of working out for me.
02:49I do, kind of. I do, I do. Yeah, it's basically a bit of a competition where the more points you get, the bigger the results are and, hopefully, being in the first eight, you qualify straight away from this sort of group stage.
03:08So, yeah, we want to get the most points possible, but we know it's going to be very hard.
03:20I just wondered how important your manager is going to be this season in terms of the stuff he's won in Europe and how important he will be for the team and what he can do to get you through to the next stage?
03:31Very important, obviously. He's changed a fair bit since he's been at the club and, for me personally, he's improved me a lot as a player, as a man, and I understand the game even better than before.
03:45We've seen last year so many times where he's been important in his tactical tweaks that he's made during games, before games and this season as well. So, yeah, he's going to be massive for us.
03:57I know the Champions League is great, but it does mean more games for players. I think Akanji Man City has been critical in a number of matches. I just wondered how you feel personally as a player with the number of games you're playing at the minute?
04:10Yeah, listen, we all know the schedule is going to be very busy. There are at least two more games in this new format, so we're going to have to manage our recovery times and hopefully pick up as few injuries as possible.
04:24But injuries are part of the game. They're going to happen anyway, but it's true that the schedule is very busy.
04:32Juri, just on that, you're someone who plays regularly for your country as well as your club, so there are very little breaks. Does it ever worry you about your own health and fitness later on, just the amount you're asking of your body physically?
04:52Well, football is a demanding sport anyway, so the amount of games that we play we know. There are more and more. There are more competitions. Football is getting tougher every year, many games.
05:08It's taking its toll on the body, but like I said, we have to try and make the most of our recovery moments and in between games try to recover as best as we can to take care of our bodies and hopefully to perform really good on the pitch.
05:22But it's true that sometimes it's very hard, but it's what we love to do anyway. I like to be out there on the pitch and having a good pre-season behind me and just playing games is good, I think.
05:37You've played at the top level of European football in many seasons. Not everyone in this squad has. If there was one thing you could identify about this competition that differs from any others that you'd pass on as a piece of advice, what would that be?
05:50Listen, we've got some experience from Europe last year and it's going to be even tougher this year being in the biggest European club competition. We're going to have to do even better than what we did last year and missing out on the final last year was a tough experience, but I think a good one for the group to understand what we have to do better this year and hopefully we can learn from that.
06:20Juri, I wanted to ask you about every player wants to play every game, don't they? And especially Champions League, elite competition. How important is it that the players that are on the bench tomorrow understand that, not to be disappointed, to understand that they've got a part to play in the game and for the rest of the tournament?
06:38Like you say, everyone wants to play. We've seen, especially last year, how many injuries we've had towards the end and everyone had its part in our season in the end. We know everyone's got to be ready, everyone is, and everyone wants to play the games, but the manager is there to make the decisions, to pick the squad, to pick the starting eleven.
07:02We've seen in the last couple of weeks as well that the substitutions have played their part in us winning games, so everyone's got to be focused.
07:14Have you got any concerns about playing on the plastic pitch, Juri?
07:17Well, I wouldn't say concerned, but we've all in our careers, youth careers, played on AstroTurf before, but it's true that when you get used to Premier League pitches, good grass, it's different. So that's why we're training here actually to getting used to the surface and not making it an excuse tomorrow.
07:48Juri, have you felt that sense of significance in terms of being in the Champions League this game? Have you felt that around the place, around the squad and maybe around town as well back home?
07:57Yeah, definitely. I mean, when I'm in the streets just walking around and seeing Villa fans being very excited about the Champions League and very excited about our performances as a team, the achievements from last year, there's a big buzz around it. So obviously we feel that as players.
08:19Can I just ask you about John Duran? I think the manager said he's matured. Have you noticed a shift in him? Obviously what he's doing on the pitch speaks for itself, but have you noticed a difference in him as a person a bit?
08:29Well, inside the changing room he's always been the same guy really, always really funny and yeah, his own character really. But it's true that on the pitch he's doing his talking at the moment and you can see that he's been really focused on the pitch. He's working hard for himself, for the team and on the training pitch as well, doing his bits like everyone asked and yeah, he's doing really well for us at the moment.
09:00Anyone else? All good. Thank you very much everyone.
09:59Yeah.
18:01First of all, for me, Unai, the Vila fans love you and what you are doing for this club.
18:02I would like to personally thank you as an ex player.
18:03The team is a joy to watch.
18:05You have so much experience in European football.
18:08I want to know how you're feeling going into tomorrow night's game.
18:12Good afternoon and nice to see you, Gabi.
18:16Congratulations for everything you did here for Aston Villa.
18:20Now is our moment. Hopefully our moment as well.
18:23We are excited and I think it's a good moment for the club
18:31after a long time playing in the Champions League.
18:33Tomorrow we are going to start.
18:34Hopefully we can keep it for a long time again.
18:38It's really our challenge.
18:40My own challenge is to get to Europe.
18:44Last year we played in the Conference League,
18:47now in the Champions League we try to keep it.
18:49We know how difficult it is this way
18:53because to play again in the Champions League
18:56is more or less through the Premier League.
18:58In the Premier League there are more or less seven, eight teams
19:02being favourites or contenders to get the position, the table, to get it.
19:10But we have to try to enjoy each match, each moment.
19:15Now we are starting this competition.
19:19We are, of course, very motivated.
19:23We can use our own experiences as the coaches
19:27because we played in Europe in three competitions,
19:33in the Conference League, in the Europa League and in the Champions League.
19:37And some places where they played, they played.
19:40But the most important experience for us
19:42is the experience we had last year here together.
19:46And we want to build, to create a new way together here at Aston Villa
19:51with the players we are adding the first time playing in Europe
19:56last year or this year in the Champions League.
19:59And the first message I can send then is
20:06I want to be competitive, I want to face each team.
20:10Tomorrow, Young Boys, after Bayern Munich.
20:14Being competitive like we are in the Premier League.
20:17And how difficult it is to compete in the Premier League
20:20being there in the top position last year.
20:24And the similar competitive way we have to do in this competition in the Champions League
20:28because more or less the best in the world are in the Champions League, of course,
20:34and in the Premier League.
20:36And we know more or less how difficult it is in Europe.
20:39And last year we learned a lot about how to play away,
20:43to play against other teams in other countries,
20:50maybe not relevant countries or leagues like the Premier League,
20:55but how difficult it is.
20:57And tomorrow, here in Switzerland,
21:00I played before against other teams here and it's always very difficult.
21:05Even in the Champions League, playing against Basilea
21:08during my career as a coach
21:11and playing here against Young Boys three years ago with Villarreal as well.
21:16And this is the message.
21:20George, do you have anything for us?
21:24Hello. I just wondered, what can Villa fans dream of in the Champions League this season?
21:29Because there's some great clubs that have won it.
21:31But I just wondered, what do you want
21:33and what's possible with you and this team this season in this competition?
21:38To compete and to face each match being competitive.
21:43And how far we can get, I don't know.
21:50But of course, I am not going to refuse any objective in this competition.
21:55At the beginning, of course, it's to play tomorrow,
21:58try to start being comfortable on the pitch,
22:03try to start playing more or less,
22:08increasing our level.
22:13Even though we started very well in the Premier League,
22:15I think we have a lot of work to do.
22:19And tomorrow is a good opportunity again to try to get it,
22:23tactically, individually.
22:25And then be competitive, adapting to the opponent's demands
22:30and trying to impose our style, our idea, our game plan,
22:35our skill with the players.
22:37But the objective, we have to try to fix each match tomorrow.
22:45Sorry, are you a fan of the new format
22:48or do you prefer the old format in the Champions League,
22:51the new system, the way it's working this year?
22:53I prefer this one.
22:55But of course, I didn't play before in this one.
22:59But I think we needed one change.
23:02We needed to change and I think this one is going to be better.
23:06Because when we played with other teams,
23:09I was missing something like now.
23:13Play more matches, try to play more matches,
23:19interesting matches during the process.
23:22It's not like a knockout sometimes, so quick.
23:26And we are going to play eight matches, I think it's good.
23:29And then we are going to set everything in the same table.
23:34And I think it's more fair
23:39and I think it's even more attractive for the supporters.
23:47Unai, in terms of the pitch, do you have any concerns about the pitch?
23:50And how important was it for your team to train on it and acclimatise,
23:54get used to it?
23:55I want to adapt.
23:57And the first is we changed a little bit our usual way
24:01when we are playing in Europe.
24:05We have our training session in Birmingham and then travel.
24:08But we decided to come here, to train here,
24:11because we want to know and to adapt for the synthetic pitch.
24:17But we are ready and we are not going to use it as an excuse,
24:23because I think we can play like we are,
24:26like we are with our personality in synthetic pitch.
24:35Sorry to move the subject away from tomorrow's match a little bit, Unai,
24:39but could you say a few words about the untimely passing of Gary Shaw?
24:42Because obviously it's come as a bitter blow on the eve of a game
24:48he would have no doubt enjoyed.
24:50Yes, my condolences for the family,
24:54for all the support of the family in Aston Villa Club.
24:58And of course, memories,
25:01because we are always remembering,
25:06we have in our tanning ground the picture of 1982,
25:11the Champions League, the Cup of Europe,
25:13and he was one of the protagonists there.
25:17My condolences.
25:21Is there a part of you tomorrow that you would like to dedicate,
25:25should you emerge victorious, that victory to him?
25:28Yes, yes, I think it works completely.
25:32And we can have another motivation.
25:37It's good.
25:46Unai, Emery, you said it before,
25:48you've already been here with Villarreal, also with Pau Torres.
25:53What are your memories of this game here?
25:56Very difficult. We competed very well.
25:59We started winning two-nil so quickly.
26:01It was the second match in groups,
26:06and we started winning two-nil,
26:07but at the end we won two-four,
26:11but it really was very difficult.
26:13And they are keeping some players,
26:15Kamara, Elia, Lauper,
26:18and more or less analysing them,
26:21they are playing more or less similar.
26:23They are very organised team,
26:26they have a lot of paces with their strikers, their wingers,
26:33they are very good in transition, they are very good physically as well.
26:38I will prepare the match more or less with the experiences we have here
26:44and how difficult it was,
26:46and we are going to remind the players that moment.
26:54Hello, Unai.
26:55You said in the programme before the game against Everton
26:59that you were worried about the number of matches
27:02that players are being forced to play now.
27:05There are extra matches in the Champions League this season.
27:08What do you think needs to be done
27:11to ensure that there aren't lots of injuries now or in the future?
27:18I don't know. It's not my work.
27:21I am trying to be intelligent,
27:25manage the players as well as possible.
27:29Of course, we are adding more players,
27:33playing with the national team.
27:35When we arrived here,
27:36we were signing in the break with 12 players, now we are five.
27:40And I think this is a good example
27:42of how we increased our level with the players, with the club,
27:49and of course, it's better this way,
27:51but it's more difficult because they are playing more matches
27:54and sometimes they are at more risk of getting injured.
27:58But I don't know how.
28:00Of course, everything is in my hands.
28:04I try to use the players, be intelligent,
28:07try to avoid sometimes risks
28:10in case someone is being alert for something.
28:15But it's one thing, clear, they are playing a lot of matches.
28:19They are more and more adding a lot of matches.
28:24But just in this competition, in the Champions League,
28:27I think it's better.
28:28It's better for this competition.
28:30It's the best competition, I think, in the world,
28:32after the World Cup, after the Euro Cup,
28:34or something around the country's competition.
28:40But it's not the best competition.
28:44But in the clubs, I think the Champions League is the best
28:46and we have to try to enjoy it.
28:48It's the biggest award for every team playing in their domestic league
28:55to get to the Champions League.
28:56When I was in Spain, even in Moscow,
28:59I played in the Champions League with Sparta Moscow,
29:01in Paris, in France, here in England.
29:04And of course, for the supporters, for the clubs,
29:08for the coaches, for the players,
29:11this competition is the most recognisable competition for everybody.
29:23Hi, is Leon Bailey fit?
29:25Are there any other fresh injuries from the weekend?
29:29He's in the squad.
29:30We are going to try now and hopefully he will feel good.
29:35And tomorrow we'll decide if he's playing minutes
29:38or in the starting eleven.
29:41But he's good news.
29:45Okay, thank you very much.
29:47Thank you so much. Thank you. See you tomorrow.