As the drums of the 17th round of the EPL are about to beat, Villa will welcome the incoming enemy Manchester City at their own position. On the eve of the big game, Villa coach Emery attended a press conference, not only to give a detailed briefing on the team's health status, but also to express his views on the upcoming focus of the match.
On the subject of injuries, Emery revealed that Mings and Leon Bailey have been included in the starting line-up and are expected to feature in tonight's game. Despite the encouraging progress in Ramsey's recovery, he will unfortunately have to wait another day.
Speaking about the showdown with Manchester City, Emery said bluntly, "It's a tough game and one that will make your heart beat faster. At Villa Park, our fans will provide us with endless strength. We will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our fans and face this challenge with all our might. I am confident about the future of the team, which is to continue to progress and climb to new heights in the league. Despite the FA Cup and Champions League fixtures, my mind is on the next Premier League clash at the moment."
In the face of Manchester City's embarrassing record of 8 losses in the last 11 games, Emery said more or less surprised, but he emphasized: "This is the charm of soccer. Guardiola is undoubtedly a world-class coach, every game we have to give the opponent due respect. The EPL is one of the toughest leagues in the world to play in, and Manchester City are undoubtedly one of the top teams in recent years. Despite their recent ups and downs, they are not to be underestimated. We are confident that we will be able to compete with them at home, but the key lies in how we play the game."
Talking about the overall level of the Premier League, Emery recalled: "I came to Villa two years ago with a lot of enthusiasm, having previously managed Premier League powerhouse Arsenal. It's a very competitive league and it takes a lot of hard work to be as consistent and successful as Manchester City. City have been excellent over the last few years and have been as consistent as they have been in every aspect of the game and are on course to repeat as champions. Tomorrow, we will face them and we will give our best to show our strength and fighting spirit."
Finally, talking about how to improve the level of the team, Emery said, "We keep steady progress, but to reach the top level, we need to do better in all aspects. We need to be patient and keep refining at the tactical and mental level. We are gaining experience, sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, but we will keep a positive attitude and keep moving forward."
