๐จ 21 Feb 2026 Villa 1-1 Leeds, Villa Park
Scorer(s): Tammy Abraham | 88โ |
Assist(s): Ezri Konsa | 88โ |
Fixture List
On This Day
Saturday, 21 February 2026
Scroll for more โฌ๏ธ
Last 5: ๐ฅ ๐จ ๐ฉ ๐ฅ ๐จ
Unai Emery | ๐ช๐ธ | 2022-
๐ 178 | ๐ฉ | 99 ๐จ | 32 ๐ฅ 47 | 1.85
Villa Career Form:
Top 4
Game #5820
Match Record
Season: 2025-26
Matchday: #38
League Game: #27
Manager Game: #178
Date: Saturday, 21 February 2026
Attendance: 43,048
Game Record
Manager: Unai Emery | ๐ช๐ธ | Hondarribia, 2022-
Referee: Michael Oliver | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Northumberland, 2010-
Kick off: 3.00 pm
HT Score: ๐ฅ 0-1
FT Result: ๐จ Drew
FT Score: ๐จ 1-1
Last 5: ๐ฅ ๐จ ๐ฉ ๐ฅ ๐จ
Head to Head
Previous 5 vs. Leeds: ๐จ ๐ฉ ๐จ ๐ฉ ๐ฉ
Total ๐ 108 | ๐ฉ W43 (40%) | ๐จ D33 | ๐บ(70%) | ๐ฅ L32 (30% | โฝ 148 | ๐ฅ 140 | GD 8
Trophy Cabinet
Aston Villa
European Cup / Champions League: ๐
League Champions: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
FA Cup Winners: ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
League Cup Winners: ๐๐๐๐๐
Last Trophy: 1995-96
Leeds United
European Cup / Champions League: โ
League Champions: ๐๐๐
FA Cup Winners: ๐
League Cup Winners: ๐
Last Trophy: 1991โ92
Squad News
Debut Appearances
None
Final Appearances
None
Match Timeline
๐ฅ
31โ Goal, 0-1, (Leeds United), Anton Stach
๐ 45โ+2 Aston Villa 0-1 Leeds United
๐ 61โ Sub off, Amadou Onana, Sub on, Ross Barkley
๐ 61โ Sub off, Leon Bailey, Sub on, Jadon Sancho
๐จ 62โ Booking, (Leeds United), Jaka Bilol
๐ชต 68โ Woodwork! Emiliano Buendรญa
๐จ 69โ Booking, (Leeds United), Karl Darlow
๐จ 73โ Booking, Emiliano Buendรญa
๐ 75โ Sub off, Emiliano Buendรญa, Sub on, Tammy Abraham
๐จ 79โ Booking, (Leeds United), Jayden Bogle
๐ 87โ Sub off, Matty Cash, Sub on, Andrรฉs Garcรญa
๐ 87โ Sub off, Douglas Luiz, Sub on, Lamare Bogarde
โฝ 88โ Goal, 1-1, Tammy Abraham, Assist by Ezri Konsa
๐จ 90โ+2 Booking, (Leeds United), Ilia Gruev
๐ 90โ+6 Aston Villa 1-1 Leeds United
Officials
Referee: Michael Oliver | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Northumberland, 2010-
Assistants: Stuart Burt, James Mainwaring
Fourth Official: Andrew Kitchen
VAR: Tony Harrington | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Cleveland, 2022-
Assistant VAR: Blake Antrobus
Officials
Referee Profile
Referee: Michael Oliver | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Northumberland, 2010-
๐ 41 | ๐ฉ W14 | ๐จ D8 | ๐ฅ L19 |
๐ 41 | ๐ฉ 34% | ๐จ 20% | ๐ฅ 46% |
Cards ๐จ 71 | ๐ฅ 3 | 1.80 |
Opposition Cards ๐จ 62 | ๐ฅ 4 | 1.61 |
Penalty โฝ 2 | ๐ฅ
4 |
Last 5: ๐ฅ ๐ฉ ๐ฉ ๐ฉ ๐จ
VAR Profile (Post 2021)
VAR: Tony Harrington | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | Cleveland, 2022-
๐ 9 | ๐ฉ W3 | ๐จ D3 | ๐ฅ L3 |
๐ 9 | ๐ฉ 33% | ๐จ 33% | ๐ฅ 33% |
Cards ๐จ 25 | ๐ฅ 0 | 2.78 |
Opposition Cards ๐จ 23 | ๐ฅ 0 | 2.56 |
Penalty โฝ 1 | ๐ฅ
0 |
Last 5: ๐ฉ ๐ฉ ๐จ ๐จ ๐จ
Officials
Villa Bookings
๐จ Emiliano Buendรญa (8)
Villa Sendings Off
None
Opposition Bookings
๐จ Jaka Bijol
๐จ Karl Darlow
๐จ Jayden Bogle
๐จ Ilia Gruev
Opposition Sendings Off
None
Match Stats
Villa Possession 67%
Opposition Possession 33%
Villa Shots 16
Opposition Shots 14
Villa Shots on Target 4
Opposition Shots on Target 4
Villa Shots off Target 7
Opposition Shots off Target 6
Villa Touches in Box 20
Opposition Touches in Box 20
Villa Fouls 11
Opposition Fouls 16
Villa Corners 7
Opposition Corners 2
Villa Saves 3
Opposition Saves 3
Line Up & Subs
Aston Villa
Unai Emery | ๐ช๐ธ | 2022-
GK Emiliano Martรญnez ๐ฆ๐ท
RB Matty Cash ๐ต๐ฑ ๐
CB Tyrone Mings ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
CB Ezri Konsa ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ ๐ฅ
LB Ian Maatsen ๐ณ๐ฑ
DM Amadou Onana ๐ง๐ช ๐
M Douglas Luiz ๐ง๐ท ๐
AM Emiliano Buendรญa ๐ฆ๐ท ๐จ ๐
AM Morgan Rogers ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
RW Leon Bailey ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐
CF Ollie Watkins ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
Substitutes
๐ CM Ross Barkley ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ for DM Amadou Onana ๐ง๐ช 61โ
๐ LW Jadon Sancho ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ for RW Leon Bailey ๐ฏ๐ฒ 61โ
๐ CF Tammy Abraham ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฝ for AM Emiliano Buendรญa ๐ฆ๐ท 75โ
๐ RB Andrรฉs Garcรญa ๐ช๐ธ for RB Matty Cash ๐ต๐ฑ 87โ
๐ DM Lamare Bogarde ๐ณ๐ฑ for M Douglas Luiz ๐ง๐ท 87โ
Unused Substitutes
GK James Wright ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
CB Victor Lindelรถf ๐ธ๐ช
CB Pau Torres ๐ช๐ธ
LB Lucas Digne ๐ซ๐ท
Leeds United
Daniel Farke | ๐ฉ๐ช |
GK Karl Darlow ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ ๐จ
RB James Justin ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
RB Jayden Bogle ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ ๐จ
CB Joe Rodon ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ
CB Pascal Struijk ๐ณ๐ฑ
LB Gabriel Gudmundsson ๐ธ๐ช ๐
M Ethan Ampadu ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ
M Brenden Aaronson ๐บ๐ธ ๐
M Anton Stach ๐ฉ๐ช โฝ ๐
M Ilia Gruev ๐ง๐ฌ
CF Dominic Calvert-Lewin ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
Substitutes
๐ CB Jaka Bijol ๐ธ๐ฎ ๐จ for LB Gabriel Gudmundsson ๐ธ๐ช 46โ
๐ CF Lukas Nmecha ๐ฉ๐ช for M Brenden Aaronson ๐บ๐ธ 73โ
๐ M Sean Longstaff ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ for M Anton Stach ๐ฉ๐ช 83โ
Unused Substitutes
GK Lucas Perri ๐ง๐ท
CB Sebastiaan Bornauw ๐ง๐ช
M Ao Tanaka ๐ฏ๐ต
W Daniel James ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ
W Wilfried Gnonto ๐ฎ๐น
CF Joรซl Piroe ๐ณ๐ฑ
Team News
Aston Villa
'"Matty Cash is coming back... He trained the last two training sessions, and he is feeling good.
โThe players who were injured are still being injured โ McGinn, Kamara, Tielemans and Alysson.โ
โHarvey Elliott, as well, is not available for tomorrow. The other players are available.โ
Suspension | 1 |
GK Marco Bizot ๐ณ๐ฑ
Injury | 5 |
DM Boubacar Kamara ๐ซ๐ท
Injury: Knee
Absent since: 18 Jan 26
Matches missed to date: 7
Update: 28 Jan 2026: "Kamara, he had surgery. He had it, and he's going to be out for the rest of the season.โ
Expected return: 2026-27 Season
CM John McGinn ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ
Injury: Unknown
Absent since: 21 Jan 26
Matches missed to date: 6
Update: 28 Jan 2026: โMcGinn, more or less, is 6-8 weeks out.โ
Expected return: 11 Apr 2026
CM Youri Tielemans ๐ง๐ช
Injury: Ankle
Absent since: 29 Jan 26
Matches missed to date: 4
Update: 28 Jan 2026: โTielemans is 8-10 weeks out. It was his ankle.โ
Expected return: 18 Apr 2026
RW Alysson ๐ง๐ท
Injury: Unknown
Absent since: 14 Feb 26
Matches missed to date: 2
Update: 20 Jan 2026: โThe players who were injured are still being injured โ McGinn, Kamara, Tielemans and Alysson.โ
Expected return: Unknown
AM Harvey Elliott ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
Injury: Unknown
Absent since: 21 Feb 26
Matches missed to date: 1
Update: 20 Jan 2026: โElliott is injured now. He is not available because of injury.โ
Expected return: Unknown
Out on Loan | 27 |
1. Josh Feeneyย ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 20 | Huddersfield Town ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
2. Kosta Nedeljkovicย ๐ท๐ธ โฌ7.60m | 20 | RB Leipzig ๐ฉ๐ช
3. Oliwier Zychย ๐ต๐ฑ Youth | 21 | Rakรณw Czฤstochowa ๐ต๐ฑ
4. Tommi O'Reillyย ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 22 | Crewe Alexandra ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
5. Enzo Barrenecheaย ๐ฆ๐ท โฌ8.00m | 24 | Benfica ๐ต๐น
6. Joe Gauciย ๐ฆ๐บ โฌ1.50m | 25 | Port Vale ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
7. Lewis Dobbinย ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ11.80m | 23 | Preston North End ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
8. Ewan Simpsonย ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ โฌ290k | 19 | Hamilton Academical ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ
9. Triston Roweย ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 19 | FC Annecy ๐ซ๐ท
10. Thierry Katsukunyaย ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ Youth | 20 | Real Uniรณn ๐ช๐ธ
11. Max Lottย ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 18 | Stratford Town ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
12. Sil Swinkelsย ๐ณ๐ฑ Youth | 22 | Chesterfield ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
13. Aidan Borlandย ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ Youth | 18 | Swindon Town ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
14. Ashton McWilliams ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 18 | Morecambe ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
15. Kane Taylor ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 20 | Oldham ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
16. Donyell Malen | ๐ณ๐ฑ | โฌ25.00m | 26 | AS Roma ๐ฎ๐น
17. Charlie Pavey ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 18 | Hereford ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
18. Yasin รzcanย ๐น๐ท โฌ7.00m | 19 | Besiktas ๐น๐ท
19. Evann Guessand ๐จ๐ฎ โฌ30.00m | 24 | Crystal Palace ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
20. Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 19 | West Bromwich Albion ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
21. Ben Broggio ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 19 | Falkirk ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ
22. Louie Barry ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ1.00m | 22 | Stockport County ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
23. Samuel Iling-Juniorย ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ14.00m | 22 | Pisa Sporting Club ๐ฎ๐น
24. Kadan Young ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 20 | Reading ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
25. Lino Sousa ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Free | 21 | Rotherham United ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ
26. Rory Wilson ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ โฌ440k | 20 | Sturm Graz ๐ฆ๐น
27. LB Travis Patterson ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 20 | FC Annecy ๐ซ๐ท
Leeds United
Injury | 1 |
1. W Noah Okafor | ๐จ๐ญ | โฌ19.00m | 25 |
Out on Loan | 7 |
1. RB Isaac Schmidt ๐จ๐ญ โฌ2.97m | 25 | ๐ฑWerder
2. M Darko Gyabi ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ5.80m | 21 | ๐ฑHull
3. W Largie Ramazani ๐ง๐ช โฌ7.70m | 24 | ๐ฑValencia
4. CF Sam Greenwood ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ1.70m | 23 | ๐ฑPogon
5. CF Joe Gelhardt ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ1.00m | 23 | ๐ฑHull
6. CF Mateo Joseph ๐ช๐ธ Free | 21 | ๐ฑMallorca
7. W Jack Harrison ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ12.80m | 28 | ๐ฑFiorentina
Matchday Squads
Aston Villa
Goalkeepers
GK Emiliano Martรญnez ๐ฆ๐ท โฌ17.40m | 33 |
GK James Wright ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Youth | 21 |
Defenders
CB Pau Torres ๐ช๐ธ โฌ33.00m | 29 |
CB Tyrone Mings ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ22.30m | 32 |
CB Ezri Konsa ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ13.30m | 28 |
CB Victor Lindelรถf ๐ธ๐ช Free | 31 |
Full Backs
LB Ian Maatsen ๐ณ๐ฑ โฌ44.50m | 23 |
LB Lucas Digne ๐ซ๐ท โฌ30.00m | 32 |
RB Matty Cash ๐ต๐ฑ โฌ15.75m | 28 |
RB Andrรฉs Garcรญa ๐ช๐ธ โฌ7.00m | 22 |
Midfielders
DM Amadou Onana ๐ง๐ช โฌ59.35m | 24 |
AM Emiliano Buendรญa ๐ฆ๐ท โฌ38.40m | 29 |
AM Morgan Rogers ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ9.40m | 23 |
CM Ross Barkley ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ5.90m | 32 |
DM Lamare Bogarde ๐ณ๐ฑ Youth | 22 |
M Douglas Luiz ๐ง๐ท Loan | 27 |
Wingers
RW Leon Bailey ๐ฏ๐ฒ โฌ32.00m | 28 |
LW Jadon Sancho ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Loan | 25 |
Forwards
CF Ollie Watkins ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ34.00m | 30 |
CF Tammy Abraham ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ21.00m | 28 |
Leeds United
Goalkeepers
GK Lucas Perri ๐ง๐ท โฌ16.00m | 28 |
GK Karl Darlow ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ โฌ400k | 35 |
Defenders
CB Jaka Bijol ๐ธ๐ฎ โฌ18.00m | 27 |
CB Joe Rodon ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ โฌ11.80m | 28 |
CB Sebastiaan Bornauw ๐ง๐ช โฌ6.00m | 26 |
CB Pascal Struijk ๐ณ๐ฑ Free | 26 |
Full Backs
LB Gabriel Gudmundsson ๐ธ๐ช โฌ11.60m | 26 |
RB James Justin ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ9.30m | 27 |
RB Jayden Bogle ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ โฌ5.95m | 25 |
Midfielders
M Brenden Aaronson ๐บ๐ธ โฌ32.84m | 25 |
M Anton Stach ๐ฉ๐ช โฌ20.00m | 27 |
M Sean Longstaff | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ | โฌ13.80m | 28 |
M Ethan Ampadu ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ โฌ8.10m | 25 |
M Ilia Gruev ๐ง๐ฌ โฌ6.50m | 25 |
M Ao Tanaka | ๐ฏ๐ต | โฌ4.00m | 27 |
Wingers
W Daniel James | ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ | โฌ29.10m | 28 |
W Wilfried Gnonto | ๐ฎ๐น | โฌ4.50m | 22 |
Forwards
CF Dominic Calvert-Lewin ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Free | 28 |
CF Joรซl Piroe | ๐ณ๐ฑ | โฌ14.00m | 26 |
CF Lukas Nmecha | ๐ฉ๐ช | Free | 27 |
Match Media

What they Said
โDelighted to be back. Iโve missed everything about Villa.
โI did miss the manager a lot [& the staff]. He's, for me, the best manager Iโve had.
โTheyโve helped my career a lot & Iโm grateful for that. To be back in that environment is amazing."
Leon Bailey
โThe camp is excited. We canโt wait to be in front of our fans again.
โWhen you have a manager that backs you, you go into training with a lot more confidence & obviously matchdays.
โIโm just happy that Iโm playing & hopefully I can help the team."
Jadon Sancho
โEven playing and winning against them (Leeds in November), they competed fantastic, and they were playing good football, and they were deserving more.
โAfter that match, maybe they changed the structure tactically with three centre-backs, and they are performing very well.
โThey are being a team competing fantastic, and of course, they achieved some very important points against difficult teams like Chelsea away, like Liverpool away, Sunderland away, and they beat as well, some teams really playing fantastic, like Chelsea at home, or Fulham, or Nottingham Forest.
โI think now they are confident. They are feeling better than maybe three or four months ago, but they know how the difficulties to escape off the bottom of the table, because itโs so tight, the difference between the teams they are there.
โOf course, for us tomorrow is a massive respect to them, and prepare the game as better as possible, 90 minutes, knowing how they are performing, how they are competing, how they are feeling good as well, playing different ways.
โSometimes they are playing in combination, sometimes they are playing low balls, second action, attacking so quick.
โSometimes they are getting duels defensively and man-to-man, and sometimes they are getting low block and defending very well.
โThey are really feeling confidence when we are analysing them and watching their games.โ
โWe are analysing, and we are trying to get all the information, how we can keep being consistent, and of course, always improving.
โBut we are playing against the opponent. And the opponents as well, they are being so, so strong in Premier League, each team we are facing.
โAnd sometimes we were winning matches, but we were so, so tight, to draw, to lose. And now, we are playing matches, and we lost, but we could win as well.
โI think the balance is overall. The balance is not why we are losing, why we are winning.
โOf course, there are some consequences, but sometimes you are winning, and you are losing with the same match you played.
โWe are being demanding, of course, and we are being consistent, how we want to keep our good form, our mood, our structure tactically, our confidence, sometimes not thinking, only when we are winning, as well, when we are losing, we are trying to identify how we must feel comfortable, confidence, winning and losing, because more or less, the teams are responding in the same ways when we are winning and when we are losing.
โBut the confidence is coming with the good results, and sometimes losing, you need as well to try to recover first, the emotions inside the dressing room.
โI can explain why I am prioritising the Premier League, because there are 38 matches, and we must be consistent โ starting in August and finishing in May โ because the first objective is through Premier League, is to play in Europe, the Champions League, the Europa League or Conference League, is the competition (that) can give you this objective at the beginning.
โThen, of course, to get a trophy is maybe more difficult through Premier League than another competition.
โFA Cup, Carabao Cup, or Europa League, but how we can feel consistent, how we can get our challenges in 38 matches to get our first objective through Premier League, is the priority.
โAnd then, of course, we lost those two cups, but we are now involving in Europa League, and of course, Europa League is another way for a trophy, and another way to play again in Champions League, in case we are winning, but only one team is winning.
โAnd Premier League, only one team is winning, and we are more or less close with Arsenal, with Manchester City, but of course, they are favourite, clear favourite, and we have another team behind us.
โBut, to get Europe, to achieve Europe next year, they are through the Premier League, six, seven, or eight teams getting it. Of course, we want to be one of them.โ
โWe can win, we can draw, we can lose tomorrow. Itโs very, very different, each situation.
โOf course, if we are winning, we are going to feel confident. Firstly, with the teams we have behind us, because the teams behind us, they are trying to get us, because Champions League for those teams is very important.
โTo play Champions League in the next year is very important for those teams, for a lot of things. This is our first objective.
โOf course, if we are winning tomorrow, we are closer with Arsenal, but how they are performing, how they are showing everybody their power, not only Premier League.
โOf course, they draw against Wolverhampton, two days ago, but Wolverhampton is a good team, and we (beat) them here, but we struggled it a lot, and we are playing next week against them, itโs a good example.
โAnd in Champions League, how they are performing and winning matches, I think the power they have now, and the favourites they are now, Arsenal, no doubt.
โAnd then, itโs City. City, always, is performing fantastic and being so, so consistent.
โOf course, we are feeling so, so comfortable, third in the league. We are so, so happy, but we know we must be so, so demanding to keep it, and to dream.
โTo dream in football, and to dream expecting to achieve something important, is very important, as well, and to have this objective or this motivation, I like a lot.โย
Unai Emery, pre-match.
"After the past days - and especially after being knocked out of the FA Cup - I've had time to reflect on the situation we're going through. We are at a beautiful and fantastic moment to show our wishes and follow our dreams.
"We are at a beautiful and fantastic moment to compete in two competitions for the remainder of the season. It is the moment to show our wishes and follow our dreams.
"We have a great opportunity to achieve our objectives and dream of big things. Our position in the table is enviable, and we all would have signed up for it before the season began.
"Nothing has been achieved yet, and every match is absolutely crucial to reaching our goals - especially returning to winning ways at home and securing points at Villa Park. Our stadium will be decisive in achieving success in the league."
"We cannot afford to relax or think that any point is taken for granted. We must approach every match, minute, and ball in play with maximum intensity and like it will be the final ball of the season - both on the pitch and in the stands.
"Today we're going to need your energy at full throttle - just like you showed against Newcastle. We felt a completely committed Villa Park behind us. That's how it has to be, and that's exactly what we'll need to secure points at home."
Unai Emery.
"You should never relax and never give up. If your level is here [raises hand], you should try for the next level."
Unai Emery.
โItโs not the best result, itโs not the worst. When we were losing in minute 89, 1-0, to draw this match was really something fantastic.
โWe must be positive. We must accept this result in the Premier League because every team (is) showing their capacity, how difficult is the Premier League, for us, for other teams.
โHow we are third, still being there, how we achieved today one point like how we were, I think should be something (we) must accept like a positive result and keep going forward, because we are going to try to be consistent in 38 matches.
โNow we are (on) the day 27, weโre still being third. Of course, we lost some points at home, normally we werenโt losing before, but I am positive with how we are going to continue working, building the team.
โWe are going to recover again, our good mood here at home with our supporters and with our structure, tactically and individually.โ
โ[Tammy Abraham] Fantastic. He scored last week, he scored today.
โHeโs here to compete with (Ollie) Watkins, sometimes one, sometimes another. Something they must play together, like they did today, and they must try to add numbers for us.
โNumbers for other strikers normally is scoring or assists, but itโs good, how heโs being committed to help us like he did today.โ
Unai Emery, post-match.
"It feels like a dream to come back and play for this club again.
"I'm happy to be here and bring extra energy.
"We spoke about it [playing together with Oliie Watkins] a few times in training, and luckily we were able to grab the goal so the gaffer can see that it can work.
"We know he is a top striker and he has been here for a few years and scored many goals, so it is fantastic competition to have.
"I had to sniff around the box, be alert, be ready. Luckily for us, I got the goal - it was in front of some of the best supporters in the world.
"Who knows what can happen? We are not too far from Arsenal who are at the top. Unfortunately, today we didn't get the win, but we just have to keep pushing.
"When I first arrived, I spoke with a few of the boys, and watching from afar, you can see that the team has a lot of qualities. We're delighted to be where we are today, but we are so close, so we have to just keep pushing and keep believing in ourselves.
"I'm happy to be back home. I just need to find myself a house!"
Tammy Abraham.
"We are at a beautiful and fantastic moment to compete in two competitions for the remainder of the season.
โIt is the moment to show our wishes and follow our dreams.
"We have a great opportunity to achieve our objectives and dream of big things. Our position in the table is enviable, and we all would have signed up for it before the season began.
"The Premier League is very difficult for us, but we are third - and that's very good. Our priority is to focus on every match. We're third with 51 points, and the next step is Wolves [on Friday].
"We're setting our standards high, and sometimes you can get frustrated, but overall our consistency is still there, and we're third because of that consistency."
Unai Emery, post-match.
"He left the Premier League seven years ago, and now he is adapting to everything we're demanding.
"It's a huge commitment from him to try to help us with his qualities, and he showed it because he played 20 minutes and he was motivated, excited and scored from it."
Unai Emery on Tammy Abraham.
Match Highlights
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