"I'm very happy with the work we did, very proud of the one year here, trying to connect with our fans, trying to get another step ahead in our objective and playing in Europe like we are playing now. But of course, there's still a lot of work to do.

"When I started 20 years ago, being a coach, my objective was to try, to learn, to improve and to get better every day. And that's still the same objective for myself and everybody around me - the club, fans, players, coaches, every worker in Aston Villa as well, I want to share with them my objective.

"It always is very difficult. And we have to respect every team, we have to respect every competition and in the Conference League, the teams are there because they deserve to be there. They can dream as well.

"The first step we have to do is try to understand this competition to understand the difficulty of this competition. And playing against Legia was a very good example. 40,000 supporters following them, being one player more for them and they were very excited to play in us, because for them as well, it was a very good opportunity to show themselves and their potential and they did.

"We lost. And of course we have the possibility to change the way we playing in Legia. It’s an example of how difficult it is playing in Europe and tomorrow is the same. I play against AZ Alkmaar in 2012 and we lost here with Valencia. And I remember it.

"And last year they played the semi final against West Ham and they were very close to, to winning. I know if we want to do something important in this competition, we have to really want to.

“It always is very difficult and we have to respect every team, we have to respect every competition and in the Conference League, the teams are there because they deserve to be there.

"I am trying always to build a team and to build a team with the players we have in the squad, but being consistent in our performances. We are performing in the Premier League, we have to be in the same performance in Conference League, but playing with the same players, playing with players that can replace or sub some players that played on Sunday.

"My idea is to play with players really feeling we have to be strong, we have to be focused in 90 minutes offensively and defensively and we have to adapt of them. We are always respecting the opponent and they are playing with good organisation, very good players and I think the coach is doing very good work."

"We will play tomorrow respecting them and trying to be organised for 90 minutes. I am going to tell the players in the last meeting we are going to have that it is going to be difficult.

"Sometimes you have to try to push them to take another level or to be demanding for another level. And trying to organise, trying to be demanding every day, trying to be focused, trying to add different players with the same mentality, working every day.

"The consequences are coming. And here for example now we can believe more in the players we have and they were here before I came here. And we can add other players with experience. But it's still a lot of work to do. And there's still a lot of things I think we can improve in the next month.

"But tomorrow is another match. We have to try to enjoy in our way trying to get different things with the team with the players, individually collectively trying to improve it.

"Playing away is always very difficult and we're really playing very well at home and we are being very consistent and we are winning a lot of matches, which is very difficult. But in away we have to try to get the same performances and try to be the same intensity and try to connect with our supporters tomorrow that are coming as well.

“But away we have to try to get the same performances and try to be the same intensity and try to connect with our supporters tomorrow that are coming as well. We have to respect them because every place, every team when they are playing at home they are feeling strong with the supportive environment.

"They are playing being excited and being motivated and more tomorrow against us because is the third match in this group. And tomorrow it is very important how we can finish the day for our objective in this group."

Unai Emery, pre-match.


"We are respecting them because they played in the semi-final last year against West Ham.

”They won last year against Lazio, they won last year against Anderlecht and it’s because they have experiences in European competitions.

"That is very important for us as well, that they are win a lot of matches in their league and in Europe. They are very focused in this competition. If we want to be a contender, we have to show every day and when we are playing those matches, we have to show everybody our wishes. I think we did it.

"We were speaking before the match about how important the match is, trying to be competitive away and trying to get the challenge being focused in 90 minutes. We did it.

"I am very happy with the players because I think they have to be mature, responsible and demanding themselves, not only when I’m pushing them. They have to try to increase their own individual and collective level.

"Today was fantastic because it was a key match and it was important. We have to be in the same idea and mentality that we are trying to get.

"Leon Bailey, he has a big potential and today he played fantastic. He is not being in good balance in playing at home and away, always taking better performances at home than away, and that’s his challenge.

"Today he played very well. He is trying to improve and to increase his level in the demands we are trying to get with the squad, with the team, with the players.

"Really, I am very happy with him today. The last match at home as well against West Ham he played very well too. It’s fantastic for him and the team.”

Unai Emery, post match.


"It was a very important match. We had our away fans helping us and we were very competitive throughout the 90 minutes. If we want to be a contender, we have to show that every day. I think we did it today.

"It’s always tough coming to places like this. I know we scored four, but it was a tough game. Obviously they're a really good team. We learned from our mistakes in Poland, we've come here and done what we needed to do.

"Recently we've been really clinical in front of goal, and we were again tonight. Ever since the manager's come in, we've been really good on the counter attack. Long may that continue.

"Leon's been great. It gave him loads of confidence last week when he scored a great goal at the end of the game, and tonight he was brilliant, with a goal and an assist. Well done to him."

Matty Cash.


"I think we played a very good game. We were strong from the very beginning, and we converted our chances. Playing away from home, these are the types of results you want. We worked really hard for it.

"I think they are a very strong opponent. They have a good structure. They move the ball well. They are a well organised team. You have to be patient. But we figured out how to get around them, and we did.

"Ollie has been brilliant this season. He just needs to continue working in the same way that he's doing, and hopefully he can contribute a lot more this season for the team."

Leon Bailey.