“Last week I was a little bit pessimistic after the match against Monaco, but overall we are doing a fantastic way. We are with 13 points and it’s not in our hands, but other teams have to win in case we are winning."

Unai Emery pre-match.



"We need to be together again tonight to achieve what we want to achieve and to keep dreaming. Whatever happens tonight we must be very proud of our season in the Champions League."

Unai Emery pre-match.



"In front of us is another big and fantastic European night. The kind that we all want to play in, want to coach in and be part of. We must forget the past and the future of the Premier League. Not even pay attention to anywhere else."

Unai Emery pre-match.



**How is Tyrone Mings after the weekend and has his injury impacted what you will do in the transfer window?**

"We will see this afternoon when we train and then we are going to decide how every player is feeling. We have Lamare Bogarde as well in the squad as well, he is training every day and competing very well in the training sessions. He is an option we have. Sil [Swinkels] is another option because he is training with us, but we are thinking of letting him leave on loan. I think he will need more experience to get minutes.

"We have enough players to compete and feel confidence. For example, Lucas Digne is left-footed and is an experienced player. He can feel confident [playing at centre-back]. Firstly, if Tyrone Mings is available then he could play, but if not, Bogarde - who has usually played in midfield - he is training sometimes as a centre-back. I am confident and I believe in the squad we have.

"We now have injured players, but this is something every team has. We have a circumstance where Diego Carlos wanted to leave and he pushed us to let him leave. Even we wanted to replace him, but we couldn’t do at the same time both and we had to accept it. I believe in the players we have in the squad."

**Tomorrow is unique because it’s England vs Scotland…**

"They are a very prestigious club. They won the Champions League and we are excited and motivated with our supporters. We are with 13 points and with the possibility to be in the top eight. We are doing a very fantastic way in the Champions League. Even when we lost against Monaco, we competed more or less in the way I want. Tomorrow is a very good opportunity against Celtic to enjoy it here and I know this is a rival match for our supporters as well. It is fantastic to play against teams like Celtic. I have played in the Champions League against them with another club."

**Did you win those games against Celtic?**

"It doesn't matter for tomorrow. You can watch on Google."

**Will you be following results from elsewhere and can you say you are one of the top eight teams in Europe if you break into the top eight of the Champions League?**

"If, I don’t like that word. I want to play and enjoy the way. In case, if, we are. We will see. I want to be in the top eighth and we have the opportunity which is fantastic. Last week I was a little pessimistic. Overall we are doing a fantastic way with 13 points. It’s not in our hands, but a lot of other teams as well have to win again tomorrow in case we are winning. I want to play the match and enjoy it at Villa Park with our supporters. We are excited and motivated. The players as well, they are showing us that they are enjoying the Champions League and competing and creating the possibility of a strong atmosphere."

**Will you be following results from elsewhere?**

"I am going to follow our players, showing their capacity and trying to get the best decision through the match in 90 minutes. Then, at the end of the match, we will watch other results."

**Jacob Ramsey scored his first league goal of the season on Sunday - can that be a springboard for him?**

"It’s been tough for him, last year and this year, not being consistent, not playing for different circumstances. We believe he can recover again his good form, like he showed when we arrived here. Scoring one goal on Sunday is good for his confidence and trying to recover his consistency. Last week we decided to stop him in Monaco because he was telling us he was not feeling strong playing three matches in a row, playing in one week. On Sunday he played and played well. He was feeling comfortable and getting confident with his goal. Tomorrow is another opportunity for the team, for him and the players."

**What are your memories of the PSG vs Celtic games back in 2017?**

"Brendan is a fantastic coach, he showed here in Leicester and with Celtic. His career as a coach, he developed in Swansea and Liverpool as well with the chance he had there. The last matches we played together was when he was at Leicester and it was always very difficult to beat the team he was managing. With PSG it was a different moment, we won but it was a different moment and teams. Before I played too with Spartak Moscow, a different moment. Tomorrow we will respect them like they deserve and they are a winning team.

"Their mentality is usually winning matches in their league and they have experienced, international players. They are going to play feeling confident and trying to face us feeling they can be close to us as well. I know because I respect and analyse them. The reason they are in the next round is because they have good players and a good coach, the club is a prestigious club and the players feel they are a team to play in Europe. We are going to feel it very quickly tomorrow, when we start the match."

**How important is it not to play two extra play-off games?**

"It is difficult to know. Sometimes to play matches is better because you can get minutes, you can get more information. Of course, you have to compete with the teams you are facing. It could be good as well if we are in the top eight to rest in those two weeks, trying to recover players and in the training sessions. When we are playing a lot of matches in a row in different competitions we have less time to work in the training session.

"Of course competing as well we have to practice in official matches and that can also be a good way to get it. Of course we are playing on Sunday, tomorrow, on Saturday, we have players injured but it’s a new objective for some players getting less minutes, or those not in good form. Maybe tomorrow we can add confidence to the team. I want to get into the top eight because it’s a good opportunity we have but not thinking only to reduce two matches. It is also because we want to be in the next round."

**You mentioned Celtic's winning mentality, do you think they can compete in the competition?**

"Of course. My respect starts by thinking and analysing their best performances, collectively and individually. I have no doubt they will come here to play and try to beat us."

**Are you hopeful Mings will be able to play tomorrow?**

"It’s not a big injury but every day is going to be very important how he can feel better or worse. We are going to train this afternoon, I will ask him how he is feeling and of course we have one more day more. We are playing a lot of matches, these are the opportunities we have. His injury is not a big injury and maybe's not feeling so bad or painful now to be ready for tomorrow, I don’t know. I will see this afternoon."

**How much of a boost is it to him psychologically that it's not serious?**

"The players, they have to try to do their best and then hope we can manage in different moments or circumstances or maybe some young players playing not consistently. Maybe like a test for them. They have to play being positive and always supporting and helping even if they make mistakes in the match. Try to get collectively our good performances to try and win. This is my mentality. This is always my first target with the team. Sometimes we always want the better players and the best performances. This is the moment as a coach I have to try and develop myself, being positive, helping and supporting the players."

**Is John McGinn desperate to play?**

"For him maybe it's a special match, but for me as well it's a special match. I am not from Scotland. But it's very special. To play in Europe, always, is special, very special. And I appreciate a lot to be in Europe. I appreciate to play Spanish teams, Scottish team, French team, Italian teams, because it's fantastic to play in Europe. And for him as well, it's the same mentality I want off him. Special match around Young Boys, we played the first match in Champions League this year, or the first match we played at home to Bayern Munich."

**What's your relationship with McGinn?**

"Firstly, it's a professional relationship, I want the best for him on the pitch, as a person as a captain we can have a better relationship always through respect. Firstly, want the best of him on the field, doing his task, working and doing everything."

Unai Emery, pre-match



**How big of a performance and result was that?**

"We are very proud of our work and our way in the Champions League this year of our work last year getting to be in the Champions League. The Premier League is very difficult to get in the Champions League because there are a lot of strong teams who are contenders. But it's very important how we are here and where we started.

"Now we enjoy the way and today was fantastic. The fans were excited and very motivated. It was a very good European match. In 90 minutes we played a really brilliant match, controlling the game. The first half at 2-0 we were feeling very comfortable and confident.

"We lost, I don’t know why, our idea in moments like that to keep the ball possession longer and stop the opponent to not let them have chances to recover. In the dressing room I was saying I can’t understand why we’re not being strong in our mentality.

"At 2-0 we have to be demanding in everything we do. In the Premier League and Champions League the opponent can change the result or come back like they were trying to do but the second half we started like I wanted. Controlling the game, getting good positioning, and progressively we were getting chances. So so calm the second half. First half I finished a bit upset with the players. We must try to be consistent and demanding."

**What is the latest on Duran and also could you talk about Arsenal’s bid for Watkins?**

“The club is working and we have to be intelligent and competitive. When we are developing players and increasing our objectives, getting it and playing in the Champions League, we are in the eyes of strong teams and leagues like Arabia.

"I can feel proud of it because they are improving and players are of interest to other clubs. As well, they are paying good money for us. Our objective is to keep the structure intelligently.

"Sometimes maybe we have to sell players, but as well change and replace them with good players as well. If he is leaving, it is good news for us because it is good money for us and we have developed the player in two years getting this offer. This is for the club, players and the team. Those three circumstances and minimum of two: the club and the team.”

**Can you guarantee Watkins will stay?**

“I don’t want [to sell]. It is good news to have offers from other clubs or interest. We want to keep our sporting objective through the players we have in the squad. Every player can be in the market if it is good for the player and the club. To get this deal we are going to be demanding. Watkins is our striker."

**How frustrating is the timing of these reports?**

"For me it doesn’t matter because we have to accept it, but it’s most important how the players respond. We have a lot of speculation around the players in the squad but they’re showing us they are here mature and responsible. Today we had a lot of players out for different circumstances. For example, if we are speaking about Kamara’s performance today as a centre-back … wow! He was fantastic. Maybe he is the next player teams will try to sign because he’s fantastic!"

**How proud are you to reach the Champions League round of 16?**

"We started talking about the top eight after beating Bayern Munich at home. We had to try to be ambitious with the possibility of getting it. Last week I was very upset after Monaco. After the result I was not positive. We got it and we will avoid two matches, but sometimes it is better to play as you can show your capacity and potential. Our first priority was to get the last 16 and we are not contenders to win at the end, but we want to compete and this is the most important objective"

**Was the bid for Duran too good to turn down?**

"You know my opinion about him. He has fantastic potential. I was trying to get him with my advice for everything. I was so, so close with him, working with him in his development. The players have their ambitions and sometimes they are impatient. If he leaves it is because he wants to do another way in his career. I told you last week, I wanted him here. After West Ham I told you I want him here. But what does he want?"

**Is it frustrating to see him leaving the Champions League for the Saudi Pro League?**

"We are different people, different person, different objectives."

Unai Emery, post match



"The atmosphere was fantastic. It was a very good European match. We played a brilliant match, controlling the game. I don’t know why, we lost a little bit our idea. I was upset with the players, but I was calm in the second half."

Unai Emery, post match



"We had to dig deep, we know we can, we do it in the Premier League every week. We thoroughly deserve it. We've got the hunger and the drive and we've got a manager who pushes us every day.

"Definitely the highlight of my career so far. It's a crazy experience and a crazy game to be a part of. It's a massive achievement and we should be proud of ourselves."

Morgan Rogers



Unai Emery on Ollie Watkins: "I don’t want [to sell]. It is good news to have offers from other clubs. Every player can be in the market if it's good for the player and club. To get this deal we are going to be demanding. Watkins is our striker.”

UnaiEmery on Duran: "You know my opinion on him. A fantastic player. A fantastic potential player. I was always trying to get him with my advice. I was so, so close with him, trying to work with him for his development. "But the player has their own objective, own ambition."

UnaiEmery on Duran: "I told you last week, I wanted him here. I told you after West Ham, I want him here. But what does he want?"

Unai Emery on Jhon Duran: "The players have their ambitions and sometimes they are impatient. If he leaves it is because he wants to do another way in his career."

Unai Emery on Jhon Duran: "Until everything is done I don't want to speak, because in football everything can happen. Club is working & trying to compete in transfer window because we need some players. Some can leave, but it's not time to speak about it."

Unai Emery on Jhon Duran: "Sometimes maybe we have to sell players, but change and replace them with good players as well. If he is leaving, it is good news for us because it is good money for us and we have developed the player."



"Buzzing to qualify in top 8 of the UCL. Special night for this special club.”

Ollie Watkins