**How important is it to improve the squad in January?**

“We are starting the New Year and we finished a fantastic 2024. We achieved our best objective we can dream in that moment, to be in Europe and to be in [the] Champions League and this year to be playing Champions League.

“Now, we are starting the new year focused on our match against Leicester, starting at home at Villa Park. We did a very good year, but trying to separate last year, last season and this season. The first part of the season, we are really not thinking we are bad, but could be better, and the league is our priority.

“Of course, we are in the transfer window as well, and the club is moving forward to try to increase our level in the squad in case we can sign new players and in case someone has to leave, we are open to doing it. But the most important for me is the match tomorrow.”

**Could Jaden Philogene leave on loan?**

“He has potential. He didn’t show his potential the first six months being here with us, but for different circumstances. He played minutes, he played some important matches like against for example Bayern Munich and Manchester United.

“I believe in his potential, but it is maybe one option as well for him or for the club, because there are a lot of clubs interested in him because they believe as well in his potential.

“We are not close [to a move]. As a coach, I am not really wanting to let him leave, but we are speaking about the different options, and maybe [that] could be one option for him.

“Tomorrow he is injured. He is not available for the match tomorrow. My conversation always with him before, was to be patient, take time to improve things. For January, it could be one option for him or for the club to let him leave.”

**What do you think of Ruud van Nistelrooy?**

“Every coach has the opportunity in head of each team to show it [potential]. Of course, as a player, he was a fantastic player. I admired him a lot.

“As a coach as well, I had a small conversation with him when he was here with Manchester United, the last match we played at Villa Park, a small conversation. Hopefully he can show his potential as a coach, like he was as a player.”

**What is the team news?**

“Not (available is) Jhon Duran because he is suspended, not Pau Torres because he broke his fourth metatarsal and he is going to be out for, more or less, two months.

“Not for tomorrow Diego Carlos because he has small injury as well, he’s not feeling good with one kick he has in his foot. Not Morgan Rogers because he is suspended with five yellow cards. Other players are in the squad and available for tomorrow.”

**What is possible for Villa in 2025?**

“It’s our challenge, and our challenge always is to improve and try to increase our level, to increase our demands and standards in everything, and we are in this way.

“Of course, to achieve like last year, Champions League, will be fantastic, but we have to try to be demanding, how to do what we want to do in our way we are here, building and respecting the different competitions and different teams. We want to try to keep the same level we had last year and last season.

“This year has been more difficult but for different circumstances. We are playing in Europe, and the demand is more than last year, playing Champions League in front of Conference League.

“But we are happy. I am glad we are doing this way, how we finished last year, how we finished more or less the first part of the season this year, but hopefully we can keep improving and being consistent.”

**What is Ezri Konsa's best position in the long-term?**
“For me, it would have to be both positions. For me, he has to be ready and must play when the team needs him in those positions, trying to do his task as well as possible.

"With us, I can remember him playing at centre-back very good, at right full-back - but doing build-up with three - as well very good. I can remember some matches he didn't play well in both positions. He has characteristics as a player, how he is as well with his body and his capacity in skills to play in both positions.

“We are trying to get stronger with our structure, and sometimes we are getting stronger with him playing as a right full-back, and sometimes with him playing as a centre back.”

Unai Emery pre-match.




"Leicester were well organised. They look a lot better a side now, the manager has them well drilled but I am happy our team has come away with the three points.

"A week ago I had my first child so I said I would do that if I scored, I am happy I was able to do that.

‘It is just about being ready, we have some players in top form so it is hard for the manager to leave some players out and I understand that. It is just about being ready and getting consistent minutes behind me.

"We created some great chances at the end. The goals will come for Ollie Watkins. We will always create chances just in this second half of the season we need to be more ruthless in front of goal."

Ross Barkley.



**Unai, what is your verdict on your team’s performance?**

"We needed those three points after the draw with Brighton and because we are targeting to be in the European positions. There are lots of teams performing well and to win today is fantastic. How we played, we struggled in 90 minutes and Leicester competed very well. They defended very well. We didn’t perform like we wanted, but one reason was because they defended well.

"When we scored our goal it was the moment we felt confident, thinking to win the match. After their goal, which was a small mistake, we reacted and scored. It was a very difficult match and it was tight in 90 minutes because we didn’t create clear chances."

**What was your message at half-time?**

"Be patient. We have experiences in the last year and used the example of Zrinjski in Europe and we knew in the second half we needed to do something more and we did. Be patient and trying to get a clean sheet firstly, that was the objective and we didn’t do that but we scored two goals."

**What is the latest on John McGinn?**

"I think it's a hamstring. More or less two, three, four, five weeks he could be out."

**What will that goal do for Leon Bailey?**

"We were speaking about it in the meeting we had for the match about trying to find the goal, not really wishing to be anxious. The first half, the only chance we had was something similar to his goal.

"Being calm, calm, choosing the best option in the final third and in the box. It is coming [first goal]. Today he scored and for him it is fantastic after a long time not scoring.

"The most important thing is for the team. Even if we are winning without him scoring, we are happy, but it makes it better because he can feel confident again."

**Ian Maatsen had the perfect impact…**

"He is always very positive and ready to play. He knows the confidence we have in him. When we needed something more in the attacking third, his capacity to make us faster, he always does it. His impact was fantastic and helped us score a goal because he was wishing for it."

**Did we see mental and physical fatigue today?**

"Today was one team playing defensively strong in a low block. We have experiences of last year. Some teams come here and defend like that. We have to be patient and find a solution, but in 90 minutes we are always trying to be patient.

"We played against Brighton four days ago and we played fantastic with high intensity. We have some players injured or not fit like we want but we are in a way. We will need a lot of players coming with good form mentally and we will need every player for different competitions. Maybe some players can leave and the club is working to add some players."

**How do you assess the team’s performance from an attacking point of view?**

"Today was difficult. I think the difficulties were the same with different players too. We needed to put Ramsey in earlier than we wanted and he will need time to get confidence."

**A word on Ross Barkley…**

"Ross Barkley is always working fantastic and he helped us today scoring a goal, working with his qualities, I’m happy with him and he’s always positive."

Unai Emery post match.