Aston Villa manager Unai Emery believes his side is good enough to get a result against Manchester United on Sunday.
Emery told reporters (via The Sun) in his pre-match press conference: “I believe in our way and how we are facing each match in the Premier League.
“Even being consistent, sometimes we are not getting our good performances but, overall, we are doing it.
“On Sunday, I’m optimistic.
“I know the preparation from minute one to minute 90 and how we have to play the match being very focused, being respect of them and playing an intelligent match.”
Emery has played against United a number of times in the past and previous led a Villarreal side that beat us in the Europa League final. He admits that he has a different plan to face the Reds after losing the reverse fixture, though.
Emery added: “I forgot it because each match has different circumstances.
“We played and we lost; we analysed deeply with the players and tried to improve after it.
“On Sunday we’re going to play a different match against Manchester United. They are recovering some very important players for them, one of them is Casemiro.
“They are going to feel stronger and concerned about the important game in this moment because we are in front of them. They are contenders more than us to be in the top four or five positions.
“The reality is we are being consistent, and even losing [on Sunday] we will be in front of them.”
The Villa boss also analysed three United players as threats to his team, adding: “My concern and analysis of them is trying to understand their gameplan and to understand their qualities, collectively and individually.
“We have to try to stop them, starting with the goalkeeper because his build-up is fantastic. Their centre-backs like to play, building up and controlling ball possession, trying to get good combinations on the pitch.
“Luke Shaw is very dangerous and Diogo Dalot is in a good moment. Casemiro is a very important player for them; they have very good wingers and strikers and that is my concern.
“The most important thing for me, individually and collectively, as a coach is to prepare trying to stop them.”
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