Emery is organising a Villa family gathering
HEAD coach Unai Emery wants to create a ‘‘small family’’ at Villa. Since the Spaniard’s arrival, Villa have taken 13 points from a possible 18 with wins coming against Manchester United, Brighton, Tottenham and Leeds, while they drew with Wolves.
Villa’s 2-1 defeat of Leeds on Friday was their first at home since Emery’s first match in charge and was the perfect response to the FA Cup exit against League Two Stevenage.
“I want everybody to try here to build a team and we are going to be a small family,’’ he said. “We have to be together and be together in the bad moments, be together in the crazy moments and we have to be together, positive and help each other when we are working every day. We need to try to be good friends, good partners, good team-mates and the response is going to be on the pitch.
“We have to connect with our supporters as well, we have to connect with our fans at home, away, and trying to create a lot of positive energy between us.”
Emery replaced Steven Gerrard in November and has spent over two months working at Bodymoor Heath. The 51-year-old and his coaching staff are settling into their new surroundings in the Second City. “At the beginning I only enjoyed here in the hotel! I am usually being more here in the training ground and the hotel and in the stadium,” he said.
“Some days we have lunch in the city and, of course, we want to enjoy as well our hours without work and to know Birmingham and try to adapt quickly for our life.”
Emery sent a heartfelt message to supporters following the victory over Leeds.
The boss posted a picture of himself on Instagram looking out onto the Villa Park pitch in the hours after the full-time whistle. Alongside the picture was a message to fans.
“Villa Park at midnight after a tough battle,” he wrote. “I was thinking that this is really a home, not only a stadium.
“After the loss in FA Cup, our fans welcomed us with full confidence and unconditional support. It was one of the keys for the winning against a very good opponent.
“We are building a team and it’s easier to do if we feel the positive energy that every single fan at Villa Park is giving us. Players are totally committed with this club.
“They are working hard. We are Aston Villa, and we are stronger together. A family.”
Villa return to Villa Park when they host struggling East Midlands neighbours Leicester on February 4. Before that, they face a trip to Southampton this weekend. n Villa have recalled young right-back Kaine Kesler-Hayden from his loan spell at Huddersfield.
Kesler-Hayden made 15 appearances for the Terriers and was hoping to help them replicate their success of last season when they reached the Championship play-off final. However, Villa have opted to bring the promising defender back to Bodymoor Heath.
A star of Villa’s 2021 Youth Cupwinning
side, the 20-year-old made the step up to the Championship after excelling away from Villa Park last term, initially for Swindon in League Two and then League One MK Dons after switching clubs in January 2022.
Despite starting five of the club’s last six games at right wing-back, the Terriers signed former Villa man Matthew Lowton earlier this month and have fellow full-back Ollie Turton returning to fitness.
Kesler-Hayden was initially first choice under Danny Schofield before he was sacked in September. He was then left out of the squad for six consecutive games under incoming manager Mark Fotheringham, before winning over the new boss.
“Kaine is a fantastic boy and has been great to have around. His performances in the past month have shown real progression and that’s brilliant to see for a player of his age,” said Fotheringham.
“I’ve really enjoyed working and seeing a young player push to improve, but letting Kaine go back to Aston Villa and seek regular minutes is the best thing for all concerned.’’