"We're excited and we're ready - it's going to be a good game.

"It is a semi-final to try get into a final, so we will be looking forward to it.

"In the last few weeks every game has something on the line, today is no different. We know what playing under pressure feels like.

"That gives us good belief."

Morgan Rogers, pre-match.



"It is our challenge, collectively and secondly individually to try get out best performances. Overall, we're performing very well.

"Now, we are in a good moment. Today without Rashford, but Ollie Watkins is playing really well and he is feeling good, he is feeling confident. He is scoring goals in the last matches that he's played."

"Successful coach [Oliver Glasner]. Crystal Palace, they experience playing at this level every season in the Premier League.

"In this competition they deserve to be here in the semi-final. When we have faced them [in the league] they are feeling strong and they were performing very well and this is the respect we have today."

Unai Emery, pre-match.


**Unai, what are your thoughts on your side's performance and the result?**

"I am thankful for our supporters because they were excited and motivated for the semi-final. We appreciated how we can share motivation with them. Congratulations to Crystal Palace because they deserved to win.

"We dominated with the ball to start, but we didn’t make many chances. When they scored the first goal, we needed more offensively. They were more dangerous in transition than at the beginning.

"We started the second half with the idea to try to dominate and be more aggressive offensively. When they scored the second goal, it was the moment to score a goal and do something.

"We created chances, but not clear chances. They were still being dangerous in transition and they had one or two chances. They deserved it. The match was equal between both teams, but they deserved to win."

**What was most disappointing?**

"We have to dominate our frustration and take experiences to get mature. We lost against Olympiacos in a semi-final and today against Palace. We are increasing our demands and improving over two years. This is the message.

"If we were going slowly, maybe we’d be even happier than now. Now is the moment to control and dominate our frustration. I am disappointed and frustrated, but also so, so proud of the players we have and how we are trying to be ambitious.

"Now, I can tell you that winning a trophy is very important. The responsibility we have with Aston Villa is in the history. Winning this trophy is massive. I think there are five teams who have won it more.

"How we are getting the objective through the Premier League is most important.

"I told you at the start of the season to enjoy the Champions League and get something, because the FA Cup and Carabao Cup we have to work strongly for, but be consistent and get performances through the Premier League.

"Sorry for our supporters, really disappointed. I am dominating my frustration and I know how we are doing this way and how we can be proud of everything we are doing.

**Was tiredness an issue?**

"They are a really good team and they perform against us fantastic. This year we played four matches and we lost three, drawing one. How we can be consistent is the most important thing. We were consistent in the FA Cup because we got to a semi-final, but it is very difficult. They showed their capacity to play and threaten us with their tactical ideas.

"We got the Conference League, Champions League, and this year we are going for Europe again. We are increasing our demands and today we are frustrated, but dominate that frustration."

**How will you raise the spirits of the players?**

"Crystal Palace performed very well and they beat us. I accept it. We didn’t perform in our best, individual or collective work, but that happens sometimes in the Premier League, or FA Cup or Champions League.

"We did good work in the Champions League, but still lost to Brugge and Monaco. It can happen that a team plays better than you and has more energy.

"We have to continue as well thinking in our priority, which is the Premier League. Sorry again for our supporters, but we tried. We tried with the better players we have and it is not an excuse to play matches before in a high level because Crystal Palace is also at a high level. Premier League, every match is against players like they have."

**How long is Rashford injured for?**

"He is injured. He got injured this week and yesterday we did a test. It is his hamstring. We are going to test him each match to see how he is progressing. Probably some weeks that he can be not available."

Unai Emery, post-match.