Aston Villa boss Unai Emery was delighted with the response from his players as we secured a 4-1 win over Newcastle Utd on Saturday.
Villa broke the deadlock less than a minute into the encounter through a deflected Ollie Watkins effort, and although the visitors drew level before the break, a rampant Villa stormed away in the second half with goals from Ian Maatsen, Amadou Onana and a Dan Burn own goal.
READ MORE: Villa player ratings vs Newcastle Utd: Decisive quartet shine in superb 4-1 win
It was a sensational shift in gears from Villa as we played with high intensity and urgency, but also showed clever movement off the ball and played with quality and control to create openings and seal three crucial points.
Given what’s at stake in the battle for Champions League qualification, this was a fundamental win over a direct rival, and it also makes it five consecutive Premier League wins now as we continue to build belief and momentum at the most important stage of the campaign.
In turn, it’s no surprise that Emery was thrilled with his players, while he was keen to praise the Villa supporters as we continue to make Villa Park a fortress and bounced back together after our disappointment in midweek against Paris Saint-Germain.
Further, the Basque coach highlighted the difference having a full-strength squad makes as he continues to rotate and keep everyone fresh, while the competition for places and strength in depth is certainly bringing out the best in individuals who are fighting for a starting berth and showing the right attitude in order to help us be successful.
“Very proud of how the players responded. At Villa Park we feel so strong with our supporters. Good, positive energy and now we are competing,” Emery said, as per BBC Sport. “Today was a match with every player available to play. That means three players missed out on the squad, I don’t like to leave three players out but it’s a necessity to improve and increase our competitive way for this match.
On options from the bench: “We were missing it before and now, in the second half of the season, it’s strong. We had to improve, get better, try to add players that would help us, recover injured players and some players were not fit enough in certain moments – and now they are. The result is a consequence of this. In the second half they were pushing with fresh legs and we won through that.
On using Champions League exit as motivation:Â “We have to feel angry when we are not winning. Of course, we enjoyed the Champions League, we have to be proud of our effort but we lost. Always when you lose, you have to be angry and respond.
“We have to focus clearly each match, each moment and be like today. I’m so happy with how we responded but now my thoughts are on the Manchester City match on Tuesday.
“We were focused on this match. They want to be in Europe and fight for the Champions League position. Completely happy with how we responded. We can’t waste time, we are in our best moment. today was the first match we played with every player available. We played for 90 minutes, wow. The game plan we did and playing completely with good speed and good physical work.
On Ollie Watkins:Â “He played fantastic. Last week he helped us out too. On Tuesday, he played 20 minutes. His commitment is always high to get to his best and this is what we want and need. This morning I was speaking with some players about how they feel. It is a real key moment to find our best.
“It is really competitive what we are building here. We are trying to get to our standards every day and try to get our best.
“Manchester City are being consistent like they were before. They are a contender to be in the top five We are one or two points behind them, I don’t know how many exactly. We are feeling strong.
“The players responded fantastically [to Champions League disappointment]. Villa Park is special. It is our fortress. The supporters are excited and they are motivating us, pushing us and helping us.
“The objective we are trying to get to. Today Newcastle is the level, like PSG and Man City on Tuesday, this level is the highest we can face and how we are responding is key. The players were following the game plan for 90 minutes, the starting eleven and the substitutes.
“We are happy and we want to keep going. Keep balanced because there is still a lot to do. We have to be focussed each match.
“The supporters are always here with us in every competition. The Champions League was fantastic, the way we played. Now we want to play in Europe again and we have to get it through the Premier League. We have to get points like we did today against Newcastle. They are still contenders and favourites more than us because they have two more points.
“In the second half of the season we are trying to recover some of the points we lost, having some of the players back, we added players in January and we are getting stronger as a team.
“Belief and showing our capacity – we did it today. Tuesday is another test and another challenge for the team and the club. Man City is another huge test and then the FA Cup semi-final as well on Saturday.”
As always, Emery strikes the right, and necessary, balance in his assessment after games, as although this was a superb win which would should enjoy as it’s a continuation of what has been an exceptional season thus far, the focus of the team has to switch quickly to Man City now as it’s another crunch showdown in the race for a top-five finish.
Villa can’t afford to admire what we’ve done or how we’ve played for too long as the difficult assignments keep coming, and so while this was an excellent win and performance, we need to continue to use that disappointment we suffered in Europe as fuel to ensure we’re back at the top table next season.
Having rotated again this weekend, Emery will be expected to make changes at the Etihad on Tuesday, particularly with our FA Cup semi-final tie to follow next weekend, but whether it’s Watkins, Maatsen or Onana, the players coming into the starting line-up, or coming off the bench in the latter stages of games, are proving that they can make a vital contribution when called upon, and it’s hoped that continues between now and the end of the campaign.
