Aston Villa boss Unai Emery was left disappointed after our 1-0 defeat to Everton, but was eager to quickly regroup and bounce back from the setback.
It was a frustrating setback after winning our last 11 games at home across all competitions, with the visitors pouncing on a mistake on the hour mark and going ahead through Thierno Barry.
Although Villa pushed and created chances in our attempt to get back into the game, we were unable to find the back of the net, and amid a growing injury list, there were concerning aspects of our performance on Sunday.
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That said, we also spurned chances that we ordinarily put away, and so had we been more clinical, we may well be assessing a completely different outcome this weekend.
However, the fact is that we didn’t, and ultimately we now have to quickly regroup and try to bounce back immediately in the Europa League in midweek.
Given he sets his standards and demands so high, it was unsurprising to hear a disappointed Emery provide his assessment of the game, and although he’ll be hoping for positive news on both the injury and transfer front this week to give us reinforcements, he’ll be busy analysing this game to see where we can do better.
“As much as we needed to win to be better than we are now, it’s becoming our frustration but we’re accepting because we’re doing a really fantastic season,” he told VillaTV. “Today we lost against one very good team. When we played in Everton in September, it was a very different moment than today, but today we lost and we must accept it and keep going.
“Today we are frustrated and I am not happy with how we lost this match, but I must accept.
“I need some hours to recover my good form mentally to keep going. How we are doing the season is really fantastic, but today we lost and we must accept it. Congratulations to them.”
“They compete very well. We had our chances, we didn’t score and they had less chances, but they scored. They [Everton] compete well and after the goal they defended well. Yes, we can avoid the goal, but we didn’t,” he later told BBC Sport on MOTD.
“A lot of matches we play like that we win. They competed well, this is Premier League – they’re a very good team and they have a very good coach.”
On the referee not penalising James Garner for pushing Morgan Rogers on the edge of the box: “It is the referee’s decision.”
On it being a big opportunity missed: “Yes, of course. We lost a very good opportunity. We did a very good season until now, and today we lost. We will get balance because we are third in the league. There is other teams with more potential than us.
“We created chances, we didn’t score. They had fewer chances than us and scored. They competed fantastically. It’s the Premier League. We are not a contender to be in the top four like we are now. They have very good players and are strong tactically. They deserved to win. We must analyse the match and keep going.”
On John McGinn’s injury: “Pity for us but we must accept that players can get injured.”
On preparing for Europa League: “Tomorrow rest and on Tuesday we come back in.”
On transfer market: “Keep working and thinking how we can improve.”
It’s Fenerbahce away on Thursday in a difficult test for us in Europe, and it doesn’t get any easier with a trip to Newcastle United next Sunday in the Premier League.
Villa will be desperate for good news from John McGinn’s scan on his knee after he was forced off with a problem after just 18 minutes in this defeat, and there is hope that Amadou Onana and January signing Alysson could be in contention at some point in the coming week to give us more depth and quality for our upcoming games.
