"We added in the pre-season Tim but he was injured and he started training with us in October and November.”

“And he's doing a process with us. I think his characteristics as a player is more or less the same position trying to fight to or to share the position with Bouba Kamara. Leander Dendoncker is a little bit similar.

"When we were trying to analyse deeply how we can face the last four months in every competition we are facing, I decided to let Dendoncker to leave and to keep here Tim. I am going to work now after today and after the match tomorrow thinking to give him chances to progress with us here in the idea we are trying to build with Tim.

"We have to do it, we have to try and support and help. Tim has been working with us for five months. He started being injured in the summer but he was available training with us the last few months.

"I was testing him in each session we were having, it was a test for him. I was testing him with our coaches. I think he is a player who can progress and we think he could progress more now [after] giving him more chances to play."

Unai Emery, pre-match.


"We had a week off, and then you draw Chelsea away. We knew it was going to be tough but we had 6,000 supporters and we want to go on a Cup run.

"We weren't a strong enough side to get the win today. They had chances and started the game really bright. They didn't score and then I think we had really, really good chances to win the game.

"But with the high line and balls in behind they are dangerous with quick players. I had to sweep a lot today, but we got the draw and play at home now.

"We made mistakes but our manager always gives us the confidence to keep trying and build out from the back. We are doing something right and doing well. Now we need to focus on Newcastle on Tuesday.

"I don't really enjoy [the sweeper role] but I am working on it. I'm really strong when we low block and the ball comes into the box. I feel really strong.

"But we play that way and I adapt. I have had training sessions on this with balls in behind and deciding when to go. With my national team and all my career I play low block, this is something new to me as well. I am adapting and doing something quite right.

"We want to give the fans a Cup run, we want to give them the trophy, we want to give them Champions League. We had the best year in Villa history in terms of points last year. We want to give them something at the end of the season.

"That's why they come in numbers, they feel connected with the team. I feel the same way with the national team, with Argentina. We felt the same way with our fans and we repaid them with titles. I feel something similar here."

Emiliano Martínez.


"There were two different halves in the match. The first half was more or less for them and they created chances. But we played very well defensively, very well in our own box and we played very well with Emiliano Martinez.

"He played amazing today. He saved us two or three times. And then he was always ready to cover our centre-backs in behind. Emiliano today, we needed him. And really he played like he is - number one.

"We had a break and I was aware about how we were going to come back being competitive like before but we were struggling in the first half. It was important to be strong in the dressing room and remind ourself how we won before here and how we are competitive facing matches like tonight we played against a team who are a contender for this competition.

"Second half we got better. We created chances and we were in their box. We were controlling the game. But at the end, I think this draw, for both teams, is what they deserve.

"It's very important to compete and adapt to each opponent. We did that today.

"We tried to keep our mind and game plan clear. In the second half we tried to get progressively better.

"The second half we progressively got better and really we finished being strong and finished being more close to score a goal. We were trying to win the match with our game plan like we prepared before. Then, I have to accept this draw and we will play at home to be motivated with our supporters.

"Now we play at home, of course we wanted to win the match but now we accept this draw. We play at home in two weeks with our supporters.

"We are going to be in Villa Park trying to enjoy this way because we showed tonight that we are competitive and we can be contenders as well for this competition. In 90 minutes at Villa Park against Chelsea it is a very great match.

“We are always happy playing at Villa Park but I want to be consistent as a team playing as a team, at home and away trying to enjoy and have support like tonight, 6,000 supporters of Aston Villa, I think we have to feel that here like today away from home. They were behind us supporting us trying to enjoy and we want to show them our capacity at Villa Park but also how we can be competitive away.

"We have to be consistent in our mentality and it is a process. We are building a team and we are still working a lot of things to improve and we have to feel strong in our structure and feel in our commitment strong and everybody ready to play and help, be demanding too.

"The results, scoring goals and conceding less goals, we have to try in the second part of the season to take on a great challenge for us and I am excited. I am excited being demanding and knowing it will be very difficult and this is a message to the supporters, to the players and for everybody.

"This competition is important for everybody. We want to be contenders as well. The message is clear, we want to try to be contenders in this competition. Of course it is difficult, but today we showed it."

Unai Emery.