Monchi says that Unai Emery is capable of managing the biggest clubs in the world, but insists that he is settled in Birmingham and happy leading Aston Villa's project.
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Unai Emery confirmed that Matty Cash suffered a calf injury against Chelsea, and will have a scan on Thursday.
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Unai Emery on Matty Cash: "We will check him tomorrow. We will do a scan, and hopefully not a lot [of time out]. He had some doubts about his calf."
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Unai Emery: "We are not with one player always scoring or winning the match for us. We need our structure. We have high qualities, but through our structure. It gives us confidence and individuals confidence."
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Unai Emery: "Still three points difference to Chelsea. It means we have been doing something well this season. But not now. It is the moment to be together and to work harder than we did. Also, remembering tactically a lot of things which we didn't do today."
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Unai Emery: "I was watching the game at 1-4 trying to understand how we can find solutions to recover a lot of things. We need to recover confidence, energy and our structure. We are in a bad moment, it is clear."
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Unai Emery: "We need to do the last two months regaining our structure. We are now doing something wrong in the structure - it is not strong like it was before. This is now my concern. I will share it with the players. There is still time to recover it."
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Unai Emery via TNT: "In 29 matches we are better than them [Chelsea]. Not today. Now is the moment to find solutions and to try to recover good form and feeling together in everything. We need to get some days working and getting balance - we are not doing it like before."
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Unai Emery via TNT: "We are now in a bad moment. A bad moment. Chelsea are so happy and they deserved to win. We can understand the situation we have now. Overall, we are still three points in front, okay. We are not being consistent in this moment."
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Unai Emery, asked on TNT what went wrong: "Chelsea."
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Before tonight, Aston Villa had not lost any of their last 45 home Premier League matches in which they had taken the lead at any stage - their first such defeat since February 2023 against Arsenal.
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Aston Villa's buffer inside the top five has been reduced to just three points after losing 4-1 to UCL-chasing rivals Chelsea.
It's now just one win in seven matches across all competitions for Villa.
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GOAL: Cole Palmer gives Chelsea a two-goal cushion.
#AVFC 1-3 Chelsea
HT: Chelsea lead after Joao Pedro's double turned the game around. Bitterly disappointing for Villa, who went ahead early on through Douglas Luiz. Ollie Watkins thought he had restored Villa's lead, but he was ruled marginally offside by VAR.
#AVFC 1-2 Chelsea
GOAL: Joao Pedro's second of the night.
#AVFC 1-2 Chelsea
NO GOAL: VAR disallows the goal for offside.
#AVFC 1-1 Chelsea
GOAL: OLLIEEEEEEE WATKINS! Morgan Rogers charges through the middle of the pitch on the counter-attack before laying the ball off for Waktins. Finishes with his weaker foot.
#AVFC 2-1 Chelsea
GOAL: Joao Pedro equalises for Chelsea, turning in Malo Gusto's cross.
#AVFC 1-1 Chelsea
GOAL: DOUGLAS LUIZZZZZ! Villa Park erupts as the Brazilian flicks in Leon Bailey's cross from the right. Perfect start.
#AVFC 1-0 Chelsea
We're underway at Villa Park...
#AVFC 0-0 Chelsea
Villa Park.✨
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Chelsea starting XI vs #AVFC: Jorgensen, Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Hato, James, Caicedo, Palmer, Enzo, Garnacho, Joao Pedro.
Subs: Sanchez, Badiashile, Sarr, Tosin, Cucurella, Andrey Santos, Lavia, Delap, Guiu.
Tyrone Mings, Ian Maatsen and Leon Bailey come into Aston Villa's starting XI to face Chelsea.
Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendia keep their places in the team, with Morgan Rogers and Leon Bailey supporting the attack.
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Tyrone Mings, Ian Maatsen and Leon Bailey come into Aston Villa's starting XI to face Chelsea.
Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendia keep their places in the team, with Morgan Rogers and Leon Bailey supporting the attack.
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#AVFC starting XI vs Chelsea: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Onana, Luiz; Bailey, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins.
Subs: Bizot, Lindelof, Digne, Torres, Bogarde, Barkley, Sancho, Abraham, Alysson.
Unai Emery's programme notes: "We need our supporters and we must be together. Now is the moment. Players, staff, supporters and everybody to be together - we need everybody."
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Unai Emery's programme notes: "You, the fans, have the right to feel any feeling but let me be clear” the dressing room is 100% committed, 100% hardworking and 100% sharing the feeling of sadness when we are not winning and the job of winning."
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Unai Emery's programme notes: "No matter what happens, good or bad, we now have a season of 10 matches where we have to deliver our best. We have to be together. Forget any expectations or frustrations. We are simply competing with the greatest clubs in the world."
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Unai Emery's programme notes: "It’s an absolutely huge match tonight under the lights of Villa Park. We are so motivated and so excited. So here we are, in the place we wanted and we were dreaming to be at home, TOGETHER WITH YOU, and in a great situation."
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Huge night at Villa Park in the race for UCL qualification. Aston Villa are looking for three league wins in a row against Chelsea for the first time since a run of four between 1978 and 1984, while the Blues have lost eight of their last 10 midweek away league games...
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