Villa will host Bayern in the second round of the Champions League stage tomorrow at 3am BST. In his pre-match press conference, Villa manager Emery spoke about his team's injury updates, his message to his players, his thoughts on Bayern coach Vincent Kompany and his expectations for the game.
On the team's injuries, Emery said: "For the injured players, not being able to participate in the game is undoubtedly the worst. Every player aspires to play in a top competition like the Champions League, but we have to accept the reality. I hope that the ones who can play tomorrow are the best players, and against a strong team like Bayern, we have to put out our best lineup." Meanwhile, he confirmed that Cash, Kamara and Mings will be unavailable for tomorrow's game.
Emery has high hopes for his players: "Although this is the first time we have played in the Champions League for a long time, we are looking forward to the tournament with great anticipation and motivation. We are honored to be able to witness this game with our fans at Villa Park tomorrow. We will remember the Champions League final we played in 42 years ago, but now we must try to play another game against one of the best teams in the world."
Talking about Bayern coach Kompany, Emery expressed his respect: "I knew him at Burnley last year, he has had a very successful career as a player, and as a coach, he has also achieved a lot. He worked with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, which undoubtedly helped him grow as a coach. Everything I've seen him do as a coach has shown his professionalism and coaching ability. I think he is a coach with a bright future."
Emery is looking forward to the upcoming match: "It's a challenge for me and a test for our team. We've been playing very consistently for a while now, but we have to show what we're capable of against a top European team like Bayern. My expectation is to try to compete with them, stay competitive, play our best and potentially get a good result."
Finally, Emery re-emphasized his team's determination and confidence: "We know that tomorrow's game will be a huge challenge for us, but we will not back down. We have to be competitive, adapt to their tactical philosophy and try to implement our game plan. I believe that if we stay united and work hard, we will be able to give our fans a great game."
