Unai Emery explains what matters to him after second Manager of the Month trophy
Unai Emery says points - not plaudits - matter to him.
After accepting the Manager of the Month trophy for the second time following Aston Villa’s sparkling December, the Spaniard was asked about restoring his reputation in English football.
His stint at Arsenal as Arsene Wenger's successor ended after just 18 months but his star was on the rise again at Villareal where he won the Europa League following another high-profile gig at Paris St Germain.
His record at Villa Park has been stellar. Villa were three points above the relegation zone when he took over but ended up finishing in seventh and qualifying for the Europa Conference League.
Back-to-back home victories over Manchester City and Arsenal were the highlight last month when Villa lost just one game in eight - throwing away a two-goal half-time lead at Manchester United.
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Asked if he felt vindicated, Emery replied: “It’s football - my only answer always is: To win. Working like this is my passion. I am demanding of myself. But I was aware and I’m still aware that you have to win. You have to improve every day.
“I don’t think about my reputation. I’m not waiting to read something about myself. I am not listening or watching those people who talk about us. Or me. I know, okay, we are winning they are going to speak well. If we are losing, they are going to speak badly.
“I am always trying to focus on my work. If I want to win on Sunday, I have to prepare. I have to do my best analysis of Everton. I want to win against Everton. Then I want to win in two weeks against Chelsea.
“I am going to prepare every practice with our players. This week and next week. Only when I take days off, I will rest and I will think about something different. Apart from that, only football.”
As if to prove the point, Emery said he had watched the Toffees three times this week in the build-up to Sunday's clash. He said: “It’s going to be difficult, because of the issues with the points, it’s very tough with the support of their fans.
"And they are getting better, more competitive. They shoot a lot, they cross a lot, they get corners. They are getting a lot of players in their opponent’s box.”
Emery may not go into the market this month. Calum Chambers and Bertrand Traore are available for loan moves. Their exits will free up space within his squad. If Villa can source a striker to play second fiddle to first-choice Ollie Watkins, they will act and also, potentially, allow Jhon Duran to leave.
Villa can move level on points with leaders Liverpool with victory on Sunday. Emery added: “We are second in the table, in the Europa Conference League, and the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. I’m very happy with the players. Their commitment is very good. But we will still increase our demands.”
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