Unai Emery relieved to survive scare as Aston Villa draw blank at Ajax

"Subscribe To Miguel Delaney's Newsletter For Free"

Get Miguel Delaney's Free Weekly Newsletter

The coach of Aston Villa, Unai Emery, is aware that his team was lucky to end their match against Ajax in a goalless tie during their Europa Conference League first-leg match in the last-16.

Villa did not perform as well as their opponents during the match at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. However, despite being led by Jordan Henderson, a player from the England national team, the Dutch champions were unable to capitalize on their dominance, resulting in a goalless draw.

Emery's team is likely feeling optimistic about their chances of winning in the upcoming second match at Villa Park. They have a strong record there and hope to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.

Playing in Europe away from home is never easy, as evident from the vibrant and intense atmosphere that surrounds the game, the player stated.

The game was of a superior standard, and we gained valuable knowledge in our European experiences. Although we seem to be in a favorable position, the competition is tough, as evidenced by several unpredicted outcomes in previous Europa League and Europa Conference League matches.

I am pleased that we managed to win the game, although our performance was not up to our usual standards. We did not have much control over the game, as we had hoped to, but I am willing to accept that as part of our experience.

The team put in a lot of effort and were highly focused on their strategy. At times, they were outperforming us on the field and it was clear that they were earning their success.

I am delighted because I had foreseen the challenges that were in store for us, though the athletes are a tad disheartened as they were not at ease. Nevertheless, participating and vying for success is what counts the most.

This outcome carries a lot of significance to me presently. It remains unlocked for the upcoming week and we intend to switch up our approach while also showing respect towards them. Our improved knowledge of them makes this possible.

I had conveyed the same message earlier as well. We must seize the opportunity at Villa Park next week and strive to play with greater efficiency and effectiveness, as compared to our performance today.

What we received tonight was what we rightfully deserved and nothing more.

Villa depended on their goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to make a crucial stop during the second half. However, they struggled to execute their dynamic offensive plays on the opposing side.

During the last 10 minutes of the game, both teams had one player sent off, resulting in each team having only 10 players. Ezri Konsa from the visitors' team received two yellow cards, which resulted in a harsh red card. Shortly after, Tristan Gooijer from the home team was also sent off.

Ajax is quite different from the team that made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League half a decade ago and is currently struggling to perform well, occupying the fifth rank in the Eredivisie.

During the January transfer period, they finalized the signing of Henderson in hopes to add some veteran knowledge to the team. The team's coach, John van 't Schip, claims that Henderson has already exceeded expectations and could even contribute to the English national team.

This guy is a true expert and a frontrunner. I believe it's evident when you watch him play, his teammates notice it and anticipate his guidance.

His beginning was tough due to his move from Saudi Arabia and not having played for a month which made him unhappy. But he regained his happiness as soon as he resumed training and playing matches.

Initially, he may not have achieved the desired outcomes but now there is evident acknowledgment of his crucial role. This acknowledgement extends beyond his performance on the field and transcends to his contribution towards enhancing the overall atmosphere by voicing ideas that can lead to improvement.

I witnessed his performance today and also in the match against PSV, which were two significant games. Therefore, I am certain that Southgate is fully aware of Jordan's capabilities.