Unai Emery is looking forward to the FA Cup fixture between Aston Villa and Tottenham.
The Villans have already defeated Spurs 2-1 at their ground in October, and the two teams met again in the third round of the world’s oldest cup competition this weekend. While Spurs struggle, Emery’s men have gone from strength to strength since that game, and they should embrace this encounter.
“I think we are not showing some doubts. I think we are not feeling we are playing under pressure.
“Premier League, Europa League, when we played Carabao Cup, and tomorrow playing in the, each match, I have the responsibility. The responsibility for the club history, for the supporters, and for our challenges we have as a professional.”
“Difficult, very difficult. Firstly, because it’s Tottenham, with the players they have, with the coach they have. We are playing in their stadium. They’re going to have their supporters helping them. Of course, they have travelled, a lot of supporters of us, and it’s important to feel them here with us, and how we are competing is the objective.
“To compete, get our structure strong with the players in the starting 11, with the players being subs in 90 minutes, and enjoy the way we are doing. FA Cup, last year we played semi-final. It was a big defeat against Crystal Palace, and they deserved to beat us, but we enjoyed a semi-final in London.
“And this is the objective for the supporters, the exciting moment we can share with our supporters, to be in some moments, a special moment. Of course, every match in Villa Park is special with our supporters, but to travel away, another country in Europe, or to travel to London to play in the semi-final of the FA Cup or one final, of course, is the next objective.
“We have this responsibility, and, of course, it’s very difficult to get a title, but when I arrived here, my objective was to play in Europe and to get a title, and, of course, still the same objective I have.
“And I am sharing it, my opinion, with the players, my objective with the players, with the club, with everybody, and tomorrow, we are playing FA Cup.
“Of course, we are involving now in the Premier League, like we are, we are involved in Europa League, like we are, and FA Cup is another very, very demanding way to try to get something.
“Of course, the draw was not the best because we are playing against Tottenham away, but tomorrow we’ll face them, trying to get at best, and of course, focusing the match with our structure, with our idea, with our performance, and hopefully we can show tomorrow as well, our good form.”