‘Newcastle United performing fantastic, in Champions League doing fantastic…’ Unai Emery

The Unai Emery Newcastle United press conference has taken place.

The Aston Villa manager speaking ahead of Sunday’s game on Tyneside

Unai Emery declaring: “We must recover after the match we played yesterday [in Turkey against Fenerbahce] and we must get focus and consistency in our preparation to get our demands.”

Newcastle United with the advantages of having played in Europe a day earlier this midweek AND at home.

After losing 5-1 and 3-0 the past two seasons at St James’ Park, Unai Emery saying: “Newcastle is always very difficult in their home. Historically in the last few years, it was horrible for us, really bad results. Each match, each season, each moment is an opportunity. I am looking forward to watching how we are facing them on Sunday.”

Aston Villa have actually only won twice at St James’ Park in the entire Premier League era, the most recent of those was 21 years ago.

Before facing Fenerbahce, Aston Villa lost 1-0 at Villa Park last weekend, Unai Emery explaining: “Now our focus is on the Premier League [after Fenerbahce in the Europa League] and in the Premier League we lost a very good opportunity against Everton on Sunday at home but we must accept it.”

Aston Villa and Newcastle United have emerged as the two clubs looking most likely to break open the half dozen clubs that have conspired to build such a financial advantage over the rest.

Unai Emery on the fluctuating fortunes of the two teams/clubs: “Newcastle is a challenge, and a strong challenge. They started the season being contenders to be in the top positions for Europe and the Champions League.”

This midweek saw yet another dominant Champions League home win for Newcastle, a 3-0 over PSV, with the Villa boss adding: “Newcastle United are performing fantastic, in the Champions League they are doing fantastic, and at home they are feeling confident and strong. How we are facing them, looking at the advantage we have in the table with the points, gives us confidence. They started as a contender to be in the top five, we didn’t start as a contender to be in the top five, now we are…we are a team to try to beat.”