Villa stay the pace in race to join Euro elite
VILLA are closer to the top of the Premier League than sixth place with only eight fixtures remaining.
Unai Emery’s side collected their 18th league win of the season against Wolves on Saturday night, putting another crucial three points on the board in their quest to qualify for Champions League football.
Ahead of a trip to the Etihad Stadium tomorrow, Villa are 11 points (plus a superior goal difference) clear of Manchester United.
Tottenham claimed their fourth league win in five after scoring late on against Luton and it would appear the race for the top four is going down to the wire. Here are the talking points.
Villa response delights Unai
They hadn’t won any of their previous six home league games against Wolves before Saturday, last claiming victory in 2003. Gary O’Neil’s side arrived at Villa Park with a depleted frontline with Hwang Hee-chan, Pedro Neto and Matheus Cunha all injured.
Credit where it’s due, Wolves made things difficult at the start of both halves but Villa’s quality eventually told. At this stage of the season, putting points on the board is what matters above anything else, but Emery was delighted with how his players responded to a slow start.
“We did really well,” said the head coach. “The first 20 minutes we started a bit soft in everything. Even when we scored (the offside goal) we then conceded some big chances.
“Then we controlled it better. In the first half we were suffering a bit with Nelson Semedo and Pablo Sarabia. We tried to reduce that better in the second half. We were disciplined and had control of the game more or less, even when they dominated a little bit, we were defensively focused to do well.
“Overall I am happy because we were very organised in the 90 minutes and we did well to create our chances to score. We are happy for Ezri Konsa but we have to try to think about how to get better options for every player to score goals.
“The challenge we have is to go to Manchester City. We have to try to prepare the best possible way with the players we have. We have to try to do our best and keep going to be consistent. We are happy with the three points and it is very important so we need to enjoy that as well.”
‘Perfect’ week
After making his England debut and then his first start for the Three Lions in the international break, Konsa capped his return to club duty with his first goal of the season. Charging beyond fellow goalscorer Moussa Diaby down the right flank, Konsa received the ball and clipped it to the back post, where it struck the woodwork and trickled over the line. It was the goal Villa needed to kill Wolves off.
“It was the perfect week,” he said. “We got the three points and I managed to grab a goal. I meant it and I’m really pleased. I believe in myself and ever since the boss has come in, I’ve grown a lot as a player and a man and I want to continue doing that.
“We knew we had to win after Tottenham’s result earlier and we did that. I don’t remember the last time we had a clean sheet, it’s always good to keep the ball out of the net as a defender. We’ve had a few injuries to key players this season but we’ve managed to get results when it matters. The games have been coming thick and fast.”
Moreno struggles
Alex Moreno has started ten of Villa’s last 11 league games but has struggled for form in recent weeks. To his credit, he didn’t misplace a single pass to a team-mate but his crossing was wayward and his decision-making in the final third wasn’t up to scratch.
“He played higher than normal because I think we could exploit him attacking higher,” said Emery. “He got in the opponent’s box many times but the crosses he did weren’t finding the good solutions for our strikers. He wasn’t clinical crossing. But I like and appreciate a lot how he played higher and tried to get again his performances like he had before.
“Of course, defensively as well, with more on the left side we were struggling a bit because Sarabia and Semedo had good movement. It’s true that when we changed with Lucas (Digne) and (Nicolo) Zaniolo, we did better.”