Emery’s Fiery Touchline Energy Transforms Villa’s Season
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery may sound calm and collected in post-match interviews, but on the touchline he is anything but. During Wednesday night’s clash with Brighton, where Villa found themselves 2-0 down inside half an hour, Emery’s animated, almost frantic behaviour showed just how desperate he was to spark a reaction.
Striker Ollie Watkins said the manager was shouting so much that “his voice was basically gone”, revealing just how intensely Emery pushed his players throughout the game.
That intensity proved crucial. Villa came from 2-0 behind to secure a dramatic 4-3 victory, lifting them to third place in the Premier League and continuing their remarkable turnaround.
Watkins praised his manager’s drive, saying:
“He is very passionate… that’s why we are doing so well. He’s so demanding.”
After sitting in the relegation zone just five matches into the season, Villa now sit firmly in the Champions League spots. A win against Arsenal on Saturday could bring them within three points of the league’s top position.
Calm Solutions, Tactical Tweaks and Players Stepping Up
Emery’s ability to stay composed and find fixes has been key. Villa failed to score in their first four matches, raising concerns about their attacking system. But since then, they’ve only drawn a blank once in 16 games.
Some critics claimed Villa relied too heavily on long-range strikes — until Brighton. All four goals came from inside the penalty area.
One of those came from Amadou Onana, who revealed Emery challenged him personally during training:
“He told me I should score more with my head… so I made sure I did tonight.”
That adaptability is what has turned Villa into the Premier League’s form team in the last 10 matches, winning eight and collecting 25 points. Wednesday’s result also marked Emery’s 62nd Premier League victory with Villa — the most of any manager in the club’s history.
Danny Murphy believes the secret to Emery’s revival is his ability to avoid panic:
“It has been terrific coaching. The players are responding to him.”
Watkins Rediscovers His Scoring Touch
Beyond the comeback, Villa fans were delighted to see Watkins return to form. After scoring 16 league goals last season, he had only one this campaign before netting twice against Brighton.
The striker admitted the dry spell was difficult:
“It’s been a tricky period… it’s the best feeling to score again.”
Shay Given praised Watkins’ persistence, saying he “never gives up” and deserved his moment.
Emery, however, urged him to stay focused:
“Keep going. He needs those goals, but he must keep working.”
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