• 2 days ago
Matt Maher brings you all the latest from Unai Emery's press conference ahead of Villa's trip to Brighton.
Villa go into the game looking to close the gap on the top four - as they currently sit four points behind Chelsea who are in fourth.
Transcript
00:00Good afternoon from a gloriously sunny Bodymore Heath. Huge end to the season shaping up for Villa and hopefully if the weather stays this way it will be even more glorious.
00:13Unai Emery has done his press conference ahead of Wednesday night's trip to Brighton. The big games just keep on coming. A huge game really in the race for European football through the Premier League this season.
00:27Obviously Villa threw at the semi-finals of the FA Cup, threw at the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Paris Saint-Germain that first leg with them looming next week.
00:36But two big games in the Premier League before that. Brighton and Nottingham Forest and it was the trip to Brighton that Unai Emery was focused on today.
00:44Good news on the injury front. It's flipped around. Most of the season to this point there's been bad news, there's been people out.
00:52Ross Barkley back in training after nearly three months on the sidelines with calf and knee issues.
01:03But not a fully fit squad to choose from. Leon Bailey is sidelined. Obviously he wasn't involved in the squad at Preston, FA Cup win on Sunday.
01:15He took a kick in training I believe when he was out with Jamaica during the international break. So it's not a long absence for Bailey.
01:24But frankly Unai Emery has got so much in reserve, in attack at the moment that he can afford an injury there.
01:34It's going to be really interesting to see what team he picks. Obviously Marcus Rashford started up front on Sunday, scored two goals.
01:41But Olly Watkins does have a very good record against Brighton. So you fancy that he might come back into the line-up.
01:50Unai Emery is saying he wants 100% from his players now. He has huge respect for Brighton who are two places and two points above Villa in the table.
02:01They sit seventh but both teams are very much in the mix for European football and Champions League football.
02:08Villa are three points behind Manchester City who sit fifth. It's almost certain that fifth place will be good enough for the Champions League.
02:16Another massive game for Villa but they are all big games from here on in.

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