Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has openly admitted his early-season anxieties, crediting his players' mature response for a stunning reversal in form that culminated in a hard-fought 1-0 Premier League victory over Wolves.
From Slow Start to Resurgent Force
The season began in concerning fashion for Villa, who failed to win any of their first five matches across all competitions. The team's struggles were particularly evident in front of goal, with the side not scoring a Premier League goal until matchweek five in a 1-1 draw at Sunderland.
Even after Matty Cash broke the deadlock at the Stadium of Light, Emery was critical of his team's performance. He described Villa's defending as "lazy" and pointed to a lack of a clear identity on the pitch, especially as Cash's goal was their only shot on target against a Sunderland side that played most of the match with ten men.
The Remarkable Turnaround
Since those difficult early weeks, the transformation has been dramatic. Villa have won 11 of their last 13 matches, with their only defeats coming away at Liverpool and Go Ahead Eagles. In the Premier League specifically, the team has been in formidable form, taking 21 points from a possible 24.
Emery reflected on the responsibility he felt, stating, "I was worried and I was responsible. I tried to share responsibility with the players two months ago. We remember it every day. How we responded and why we are now different to it."
Building a Stronger, More Mature Unit
The manager detailed the process behind the team's improvement, emphasising a new, higher standard in all aspects of their preparation. He highlighted the importance of maturity and collective responsibility, praising his players for their commitment.
"Being mature and being players, responding like a man. Responding like the team needs in each moment," Emery explained. He was unequivocal about the players' role in the revival, adding, "This is the most important thing because if they were not responding to the message I was sending... it was completely impossible to get the last way or the last matches, how we performed."
Emery pointed to specific moments, like Emiliano Martinez's crucial saves and the shared emotion after scoring, as evidence of a stronger team structure, both tactically and emotionally. "We are feeling stronger," he confirmed, while acknowledging that the process of building a team is ongoing.
Despite the excellent run of results that has propelled Villa into the top five, Emery remains grounded, immediately shifting focus to the next challenge. "We are feeling happy, but we have to focus so, so quickly on the match against Brighton on Wednesday," he said, also looking ahead to a tough fixture against Arsenal the following Saturday.
