What Unai Said: After Coventry City 1-3 Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup
Aston Villa came through a testing Carabao Cup tie against Coventry City, winning 3-1 to secure an away trip to Bournemouth in Round Four. Tammy Abraham’s well-taken brace did the heavy lifting, with Ross Barkley’s first-half header helping Villa recover the lead after Victor Torp’s free-kick had brought Coventry level. Unai Emery spoke afterwards on the squad development, Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ debut, Tammy Abraham’s confidence, a first-half injury to Marco Bizot, and hinted at a change of heart towards the Carabao Cup, at least for now.
“he’s understanding how he can play with his skills, and how he can dominate, as well, playing with his style in our structure.”
– Unai Emery on Taylor Harwood-Bellis
On the progress being made
“We are now competing, trying to get into the direction our objectives. One of those objectives is to try to build a team, try to get comfortable and get confidence with the players joining us. And today, I think it’s very important, Taylor’s match, Mbaye’s match and, of course, two goals for Tammy is giving us confidence. So, this objective today, we did one step forward trying to achieve it.
“Of course, we’ll need time with the other players as well being injured or someone, we will need them progressively getting better.”
On Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ debut
“Very good, Tyler, very good. He’s young, but he has experiences and he played in the style in the area we are having and he’s understanding as well how he can play with his skills, his attitude is fantastic and as well how he can dominate as well, playing himself with his style in our structure.”
On Tammy Abraham’s brace
“Yes, very, very positive how he performed today. Tammy, of course, scoring goals. He will feel confidence for the next matches, and for us as well, it’s important to add players as well.
“Getting confidence and being ready to play and to perform and to get our level for the next weeks and months.”
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On Marco Bizot’s injury
“He was feeling some pain in his back, and we needed to change him. But of course, as well, he played well at the first half and then Zion again playing 45 minutes, I think, is positive as well. Of course, it’s not my expectation a big injury, but it’s good to play 45 minutes and to try to get minutes as well.”
On Alejandro Garnacho
“Continue working. Work, work, train, work. When he can have minutes to play, try and play well. He is progressing, but we have players in front of him now.
“Garnacho is a little bit behind, because of some circumstances we had in pre-season. It is time to be patient.”
On the Carabao Cup as a trophy target
“This competition, our objective is a trophy, and it is a way to Europe. We wanted to play comfortably and get confidence. More or less, we did it. The experienced players like Tyrone and John responded well. Overall, we deserved to win.
“We set two objectives — one is the way for a trophy in this competition and winning it is a way for Europe. We always want to be a contender for trophies. The second objective is about how we are building a team with our new players, understanding our style.”
On looking ahead to Tottenham
“The focus each match now is of course our challenge on Saturday against Tottenham. Hopefully we can add some players being available. We’ll see tomorrow and as well with the players today, try to recover and to be as best as possible recovering and being ready for Saturday against Tottenham.”
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