‘We should really feel very proud’

Unai Emery insisted Aston Villa have loads to be pleased with regardless of a 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain within the UEFA Tremendous Cup in Salzburg.

Kvicha Kvaratskhelia gave PSG the lead 20 minutes in earlier than Brian Madjo’s levelled from John McGinn’s deep cross earlier than the break, just for Need Doue to settle it within the second half.

Talking to TNT Sports activities afterwards, Emery was upbeat regardless of going through the reigning Champions League holders: “With a loss, you possibly can by no means really feel completely satisfied however how we compete, how the gamers reply on the sector for 90 minutes – and our probabilities to attain – we should really feel actually very pleased with what we now have achieved at present,” he mentioned.

Villa arguably created the higher probabilities throughout the 90 minutes, with Safonov saving from Hemmings and Zaire-Emery making an important block to disclaim Joao Gomes because the Europa League holders pushed for an equaliser that by no means got here.

Emery was notably inspired by what he noticed from Madjo and Hemmings, each of whom began in Salzburg. “Their experiences and having days like at present are crucial,” he mentioned. “They present how they’re studying after their laborious work. That is the way in which – we determined earlier than the sport how we wished to play, we now have labored the gamers in these positions.”

The Villa supervisor additionally confirmed that World Cup absentees Emiliano Martinez, Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins will now return to coaching: “They’re becoming a member of us after this match. They aren’t going to be there on Saturday however they are going to begin coaching with us now.

“We wished to present them 4 weeks’ vacation as a result of the season was very demanding. We predict it’s higher to work with gamers which can be match. Total we will really feel pleased with the whole lot we’ve achieved. Some modifications might be wanted however we’re assured.”

Buendia echoes optimistic phrases

Emiliano Buendia echoed his supervisor’s sentiments, admitting the consequence stung however pointing to the standard of the opposition: “Not a very good feeling. We may be pleased with the sport we did – we competed effectively, we had probabilities. They’re prime gamers. They get probabilities, they rating they usually received the sport.”

The Argentine additionally spoke of the character proven within the second half after Doue’s winner: “We had been there and competing very effectively at 1-1. On the finish of the primary half we had probabilities. Second half we had been displaying character.”

Regardless of the defeat, Buendia was eager to emphasize the platform Emery has constructed at Villa Park: “There are modifications however the construction, the supervisor and the membership need to hold. Now we have to maintain working laborious.”