Following Aston Villa’s hard-fought victory against Brighton, manager Unai Emery firmly dismissed questions about the performances of Premier League rivals Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool. Despite the shifting league standings, Emery emphasized that Aston Villa are solely concentrating on their own progress and upcoming challenges.
After Wednesday night’s matches, Villa remain eight points behind sixth-placed Liverpool, both teams securing 1-0 wins. Yet, Aston Villa have opened a five-point gap over Manchester United and a six-point lead over Chelsea, who are currently competing for Champions League places.
Chelsea’s home collapse saw them squander a two-goal advantage against Leeds United, while United settled for a draw at West Ham. Meanwhile, Villa’s victory over Brighton was crucial for regaining momentum and distancing themselves from the chasing pack.
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When asked if United and Chelsea’s dropped points made the win more significant, Emery was clear: “No way, no way. I don’t want to speak about other teams. We focus on ourselves, in our way, our points, and how we build the team."
He continued, “We focus on each match. Teams will both win and lose. If we lose, we’re out; if we win, we stay on track. Our focus is on each competition and match ahead. In ten days, we face Leeds United, and now our priority is the FA Cup.”
Reflecting on the game, Emery added, “We needed this win, whether we played better or worse at times. It was important to regain confidence and integrate players as we progress. The three points are very important. The first half was evenly matched; the second half was more challenging, but it remained balanced.”
He also highlighted the value of set-pieces: “They are a tactic we are exploiting more. The match could have been a draw, which would have been fair, but after two prior home losses, we needed this win to boost energy and support from our fans.”