"I was frustrated and disappointed but when I analysed it I was getting the balance.

"I am demanding and always trying to understand how we can feel stronger. After the match I told the players we have to be more demanding."

**Unai Emery on the Sunderland match.**



"Yeah, it's a fair comment. I think everyone has seen the picture, seen the goal.

"Here we pride ourselves in trying to play a high line, it is something the boss has instilled since he first came.

"We didn't quite get it right. Things have not been good for us so far this season. But there are blips in the season and we are going through that now. Hopefully we can move on from that.

"When your manager doesn't speak too well of you, it is not a good thing for you. It does bring a bit of fuel into you and you just want to play the next game as soon as possible, to prove everyone wrong. It starts from tomorrow.

“The boss is not a big speaker. Sometimes he keeps himself to himself.

"As players, we have been in the game a long time and we know what we need to do. It is down to us at the end of the day. We are on the pitch, not the manager. We have to figure it out for ourselves as well.

“I don't think we are at the stage to have meetings. Some say 'crisis meetings', but we have a great captain in John McGinn who really takes the lead in stuff like that.

"After the game, he said a few words to keep us going, to keep encouraging us. Look, we haven't started the season well. We know that. But I'm sure it's going to go well soon.

"It shows how far we have come over the last three years [that people have criticised Villa's start to the season]".

**Ezri Konsa, pre-match.**



“Firstly, I would like to thank Monchi for his hard work and invaluable contribution as president of football operations during an exciting period at Aston Villa.

"His commitment and vision has directly contributed to the club's recent successes, reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League as well as qualifying for Europe for three consecutive seasons.

"We are delighted that Roberto is joining Aston Villa. He has built a reputation as someone who can spot talent that can be developed and we look forward to supporting him to achieve the ambitions we have for V Sports and Aston Villa."

**Nassef Sawiris on Monchi.**



"We have enjoyed so many special moments together and I look forward to continuing to support V Sports in an advisory role.”

**Monchi**



"Monchi arrived six or seven months after we arrived here.

“He was very good, personally and professionally, but after two years he needed another chapter in his career.

"It was something we were working on, knowing about while speaking with Monchi.

"After the transfer window had finished we were speaking about our relationship here, working with the club and working together.

"Then, we decided with the club and him, and with Roberto as well, to do a normal transition. Nothing has changed, only changing the man.

"We reacted quickly with one person I know personally, I have a lot of confidence with Roberto. He is coming to help us."

**Unai Emery on Monchi and Roberto Olabe.**



"This is Europe. Europe is very, very important to take it strongly, mentally, and to compete in each moment being consistent.

“Last year they played Champions League with us and we won but it was a difficult match. They have the same coach, a lot of the same players. The style they are doing is more or less the same. Very aggressive, man to man, it's a difficult team.

"I really love to play in Europe and I am so grateful that Aston Villa is giving me the chance to play in Europe. We played in the Conference League two years ago, last year we played in the Champions League, this year it is the Europa League. Europe is a dream to share with our supporters. Villa Park is always amazing. I think the supporters will be excited to be in this competition.

: "With the players I have meetings and we are speaking openly about how we want to build the team, tactically and with our demands. Tomorrow is very exciting to play in Europe and then we will speak again about the league with Fulham"

**Unai Emery, pre-match.**



“When we were warming up it didn't feel like a European night, which you can understand because we have been pretty crap at the start of the season.

“It was a wee bit flat so I said there that we need to win our tackles early and try to get the crowd onside. They were good and very supportive in the end.

“We played exciting football — well, not free-flowing, but a lot better — and hopefully that’s a sign to come for Sunday.

“I said to the boys in there to forget about this as quickly as possible. Sunday is huge and everybody knows that.

“Some players are starting to click into form. We are a mile away from where we want to be, but it is very, very early on.

We went on a long run last season without getting a win. The manager reminded us of that. It is important to stick together and get wins here especially.”

**John McGinn, post-match.**



"Very relieved. I still feel there's a lot of things we can improve on as a team. I felt we could have controlled a bit more, we had chances as well. The boys out there are trying to get a goal but it is just not happening.

"It always difficult in European competitions. We know what Bologna are about."

"My first season here we went through a similar thing, fighting against relegation. The crowd can be tricky here. When things aren't going well it is important the fans stay with us but you can see at times they got a bit frustrated, especially with some of our players but we have to be able to deal with that.

"I just have to try and block it out. I try and stay positive as much as possible.

"I think today is a good starting point, a win we really needed to give us confidence going into Sunday's game. We have important players to come back. Now we are not scoring as much it just feels a bit low."

"It is not nice when the manager doesn't speak well of you but it gives you that extra bit of fuel to prove them wrong. When we got in there today he was really happy with the performance."

"We finally got a goal here, we have to use that. I am sure Ollie Watkins will be even more fueled up to get a goal on Sunday."

**Ezri Konsa, post-match.**



"It was important to get a win at home. Not our strongest start to the season, especially here. We probably could have made it a little more comfortable in the first half. They are a good team, come and play man for man. Really difficult to play against but we had chances, missed the penalty which could have made it a more difficult night. At this stage, we'll take anything that's coming.

"It's a collective responsibility. We've not been good enough, it's as simple as that. As professionals we can take the praise when it comes, we've had a lot of praise over the past few seasons and we're rightly being criticised at the minute.

"We know how important the league is so we'll recover quickly. We need to pick up in the league, last season we went on a long run without a run and it was very easy to panic but in there we are professionals. We're not happy with what's been happening and the results we're getting. We know we need to turn it round but there's quality there and tonight we showed it. It's not enough."

"He's [Ollie Watkins] a top class striker. He's not in the England squad for nothing. He's shown over the years how good he is. If he's not scoring, that's fine. You've seen the effort he puts in for the team. We don't need to put any pressure on him and add to any external noise. He's been brilliant for us and has got nothing to prove to us."

**John McGinn, post-match.**



“Morgan is still young.

“I think a lot of people forget. He had a great season for us last year, but coming into this season he hasn’t quite started the way he wanted to.

“He is a good friend of mine and I try to encourage him as much as possible, even though he lost the ball a lot of times.

“It is important for a player like him that he keeps getting it [the ball]. And the good thing about him is that he keeps trying.

“No matter how many times he loses the ball, he keeps going, and for me that’s really important.”

**Ezri Konsa, post-match on Morgan Rogers**



"At home I felt always here, three years since I arrived, we are always strong. And confident and creating and building with energy. Today I felt it. If you are not bringing that energy, it is difficult. I think we deserved to win.

"He [Ollie Watkins] worked today like he is and this is the first step to recover his confidence. Then he has a penalty and he created chances too. The most important is to recover the confidence and then do his task like he did today and then he will.

"We need more, we need more.

"We need players and [from the team] today, some players will play on Sunday and Fulham is a good team and we have to try and keep consistency. Today we won and it is important but we have to try and be consistent on Sunday. Different match but tactically, we have to continue some things. We have to keep progressing. This win will help us to continue being positive. Each match is coming as something we have to see as a challenge and we have to keep working."

"When I came here, my dreams were to play in Europe. And then how we can feel improving every day and how we can be consistent in the Premier League. We did it in the Premier League when we were in the Conference League and we got Champions League. This year, I am positive and excited and motivated. We know that by being consistent we can achieve a lot. Hopefully, on Sunday, we can show it again."

**Unai Emery, post-match.**



"The fans have to show their emotions.

”We have to accept it. They applaud us and sometimes not.

"Morgan is young and needs time for experiences. I kept him on the field because I wanted his reaction, how he was accepting everything and he did it.

"He didn't play well and didn't be clinical in the attacking third to do the last assist, but I wanted to keep him because, firstly he's always doing his task.

"He was working for the team, but he was not being clinical offensively. He needs to take experiences, not playing very well, the crowd not being happy with him and him getting his experiences and grow up through it."

**Unai Emery, post-match on Morgan Rogers.**



"He [Ollie Watkins] didn't score, okay, it doesn't matter, the goal is coming through the work he did today.

"I am happy because he played doing his task. He worked, this is the most important.

"He pressed, he was getting in duels, he got chances, he got a penalty, he missed but the most important [thing] is how he played in 30 minutes doing his task and he did a fantastic job.

"He has to feel after each match like I am feeling now, be happy because he did his work. He has to feel the same and if he is scoring he is going to feel better.

"The most important thing is how he is working in his tasks for the team. Today he played a good match, not enough because he didn't score but he played good. This is the first step."

**Unai Emery, post-match on Ollie Watkins.**



"Once a Villan always a Villan! UTV!!!"

**Monchi**


“Grateful always with the supporters when we are playing at home, of course, in Villa Park or away.

"But really, I was a little bit surprised yesterday when the stadium was not full.

“It is a surprise because we are very motivated and excited for the Europa League. We will need the supporters with the same motivation, and the same being excited like we are.

"Of course, I don't have doubt because they are going to support us in every match we are going to play. But yesterday a little bit, yes, I was surprised.

“But of course the supporters, they are always with us, loyal supporters always. But hopefully we can feel together the same motivation and the same energy we will need for the rest of the season.”

**Unai Emery on Villa's surprise sub 40,000 attendance.**