Unai Emery was visibly frustrated with his Aston Villa players after their disappointing 1-0 defeat to Monaco, a result that saw them miss the chance to qualify automatically for the Champions League last 16. Following the match, Emery questioned the mentality of several of his players, accusing them of not adhering to the tactical plan he had laid out for them.
In his post-match comments, Emery emphasized the importance of building a strong team mentality and stated that some players were not following the game plan. He gestured to his head, indicating that mental focus was a crucial aspect of the team’s approach. “We want it and we need it,” he said, stressing that the team’s objective is to create a squad with a unified mindset. While Emery absolved many of his players from blame, he singled out the performance of Ollie Watkins and Jhon Durán, who were paired together up front but failed to make an impact.
Watkins and Durán, two of Villa’s key attacking players, struggled to combine effectively during the match, leading to a lack of offensive cohesion. Despite the pair being on the pitch for most of the game, Villa could not create many clear chances. Emery admitted that his decision to field two strikers backfired, acknowledging that the formation weakened his team’s overall positioning and left them vulnerable in the middle of the pitch. “It didn’t work well,” he conceded. “It was my mistake. I made a mistake when I decided to play with two strikers and we lost our positioning.” The manager also noted that Monaco came close to scoring a second goal during the period when Villa was most exposed.
Emery highlighted that, up until the 70th minute, Villa had managed to control the game to some extent, but their inability to capitalize on their opportunities meant they were always on the back foot. “We deserved more until the 70th minute,” he said. “Until that moment we were more or less controlling the game.” However, the manager admitted that the failure to execute his tactical plan properly was a significant factor in the loss.
In addition to the attacking issues, Emery expressed frustration with Villa’s poor performance at set pieces. The only goal of the match came from a Wilfried Singo header off a corner, following a save by Villa goalkeeper Emi Martínez. The team struggled with their own set-piece deliveries, failing to create any significant chances from seven corners. Emery was critical of this aspect of their play, describing their corner-taking as “horrible.” He also lamented the missed opportunity to secure vital points, which could have propelled Villa into the top eight of the standings.
Despite the loss, Emery praised the professionalism of certain players, including Emi Buendía, who had been out of action since October but impressed on his return to the starting lineup. Buendía had been available for loan in the January transfer window, but Emery acknowledged his positive contribution to the team’s efforts. Other players, such as Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans, Ezri Konsa, Matty Cash, and Tyrone Mings, were also singled out for their commitment to the tactical plan, with Emery stating they had played according to the instructions.
While the defeat to Monaco was a setback, Emery’s comments suggest that he is determined to address the underlying issues within the squad, particularly in terms of mentality and tactical discipline. The manager’s challenge now is to find the right balance and ensure that his players follow the plan with greater consistency as they aim for a strong finish to the season.
