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BBC News
25-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Emery on a fit squad, Olsen and a 'special' semi-final against Palace
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace at Wembley (17:15 BST).Here are the key lines from his news conference:Emery confirmed he has a full squad to select from: "We will need our starting XI and all the players on the bench to be ready to play. We are ready for 90 minutes, extra-time, penalty shoot-out."On what he expects from the semi-final against Palace: "It will be very difficult. It's a good opportunity for us to be in this semi-final and share this moment with our supporters. My expectation is a very difficult match because of their motivation, they are in a very good moment. We are motivated like them, in a good moment like them, and we want to try and play with our best performance collectively and individually."More on the Eagles: "They played very well the last match against Arsenal. It's really giving us this information on how they act. I have massive respect for the coach, massive respect for Crystal Palace and the players and massive respect for the semi-final."He was asked about what walking out at Wembley will mean to him: "I will enjoy. I am a coach and I love my profession and work. Tomorrow I will enjoy it. Of course, I have a huge responsibility to respond in a good way with the players but I really am so so excited to play matches like we will tomorrow with the possibility we will have in the FA Cup."On what it will mean to Villa fans: "It is something special when you are sharing it with our supporters because I know it is special for them. They will travel with us to be in Wembley and it really means we improve in everything."On reports goalkeeper Robin Olsen will leave the club at the end of the season: "The respect for him in the dressing room, from the players and myself as a coach, is massive. He is a fantastic guy. He always helps us when we need him. He's an example in every way, and the message he constantly sends in the dressing room is to think of others, not be selfish. He is a really great man and a great goalkeeper. We'll focus on tomorrow, and whatever happens after the season, I'll have respect especially for him."Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
Arab News
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Emery glad to see Rashford make landmark appearance
'Happy for him,' Emery said'Happy because he is achieving individual objectives as well, with these appearances he is doing, playing matches here with us'LONDON: Aston Villa manager Unai Emery said he was 'happy' for Marcus Rashford as the England forward prepares to make his 500th career has undergone something of an on-field revival since joining the Birmingham club on loan from Manchester United, with the England forward scoring three goals in his last two Villa is now set to make his 12th appearance for Emery's side at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, having made 426 appearances for United in total and won 62 caps for England.'Happy for him,' Emery said. 'Happy because he is achieving individual objectives as well, with these appearances he is doing, playing matches here with us.'And try to enjoy with him, not more, try to feel comfortable himself every day here, with everything we are doing and with his team-mates.'Training, playing and of course with the challenges we have together, to try to achieve, and to play in his best form, qualities, skills and confidence.'Villa are chasing a seventh straight win in all competitions against high-flying Midlands rivals Forest as they aim to continue an impressive reached the FA Cup semifinals with victory at Preston on Sunday, and Wednesday's 3-0 win at Brighton lifted them to within four points of the top four with eight games to manager Emery could have a full-strength squad to face Forest, with Ross Barkley recovering from a long-term knee injury and Leon Bailey set for a late fitness said having returning players available again would be vital to how Villa finished the season, adding: 'We don't have now time to explain a lot about how we are, and how we are playing a lot of matches now being very, very important in Premier League, in Champions League and in FA Cup.'Of course, the players now, we are recovering players, we are feeling stronger.'We were in some moments in the season with some players injured, with some players not feeling physically good.'We were struggling sometimes and not achieving the objective we were facing in that moment.'Of course now, with the players we have more or less available for (Saturday's) match, or the match we play before, I'm happy because my plan is to try to extend 90 minutes competing in the demands we have, and the demands (of) the opponent facing us.'
BBC News
31-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Champions League qualification or the FA Cup?
Would you prefer Champions League qualification or lift the FA Cup?That is the debate on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast after Nottingham Forest edged their way into the semi-finals of the FA Cup with a penalty shoot-out win at Brighton."We don't give Nuno Espirito Santo enough credit for what he does and how he runs Nottingham Forest tactically," said former Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker. "But I think Forest's priority will be sealing that Champions League qualification."The belief is there that they can get it done. Beating Brighton in the FA Cup is a fantastic bonus that they can add on to an already sensational season. I think nine out of 10 Forest fans will pick Champions League qualification over the FA Cup."Forest will face Manchester City at Wembley for a place in the FA Cup final, while remaining five points clear of Chelsea who are occupying fourth in the Premier League in on BBC Sounds
BBC News
14-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Van Nistelrooy wary of Man Utd's improvement
Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy believes Manchester United are in a "better place" than when they beat the Foxes in Maguire's injury-time header - which should have been ruled out for offside - gave United a 2-1 FA Cup then, United have lost once in the Premier League and reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League, after a 5-2 aggregate win over Real Sociedad, although were knocked out of the FA Cup by Fulham on go to King Power Stadium on Sunday 14th in the table."It's a great boost [for them] they are in the quarter finals of the Europa League," said Van Nistelrooy."Bruno [Fernandes] is in great form, so he is very decisive in that team. It's a team which has some momentum going, so they are in a better place than when we played them in the FA Cup."Former United striker Van Nistelrooy left Old Trafford after a spell as interim manager in November after Ruben Amorim's appointment - having rejoined the club as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag last was unbeaten in his four games in charge - which included two wins over Foxes have lost 12 of their past 13 games in the Premier League, leaving them second bottom and six points from have also not scored a home league goal since 8 December, when they drew 2-2 with Brighton in Van Nistelrooy's second game."I wouldn't go into that particularly and blow it up. It's one of the things we work on. We are conceding too many goals and we are trying to improve," he said."The chances we create and the chances we missed, we have spoken about it before. It's also knowing from experience. I didn't score every game and I missed some chances, or I didn't score for a couple of games. When you start scoring you get momentum and the goals will come."
BBC News
02-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Guardiola criticises FA Cup ball after 20 shots off target
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has criticised the balls used in England's domestic cup comments follow those of Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, who was ridiculed earlier in the season when he expressed his anger over the ball being used in the Carabao Cup after a defeat against Newcastle in the were 3-1 winners in the FA Cup against Championship side Plymouth on Saturday, but had 20 shots off target in the said he was not happy with the Mitre balls used in the FA Cup."The ball in the Champions League is exceptional, the ball in the Premier League is exceptional, this one isn't," he said. "It's difficult to control."When you lose it [sounds like] you're complaining, but the ball is not right. In many years it's happened in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, I know it's a business and they come to agreements. "You know how many shots went over? Look at other games. Normally the ball goes inside from these shots. "Nike balls are used in the Premier League, with Adidas balls utilised in Uefa's European competitions, and Puma balls for the EFL response to Guardiola's comments, a Football Association spokesperson said: "Mitre's Ultimax Pro ball - used in the Emirates FA Cup and all other FA competitions - has been tested in accordance with Fifa testing."All footballs in the professional game are required to meet the Fifa Quality pro accreditation, and this ball delivers against all of the testing requirements."Alongside Mitre, we understand that preference is subjective, but we're confident that the ball performs well. With over 350 goals scored in the knockout competition so far, it provides an exciting element to such a competitive tournament."City's three goals in Saturday's FA Cup game came from 29 shots, of which nine were on their 4-0 Premier League win over Newcastle United on 15 February, Guardiola's side had 11 shots with seven on are given the relevant balls to train with before cup the weekend's FA Cup action, several Premier League sides had a higher percentage of shots on target than in their previous league matches, including Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Newcastle, Bournemouth, Wolves and Newcastle. 'These balls fly a lot' In February, Arsenal boss Arteta, who was Guardiola's assistant manager at City for three years, criticised the Puma ball used in the EFL Gunners were beaten 2-0 by Newcastle in the semi-final first leg which saw them have 23 shots during the match, but just three were on target."We kicked a lot of balls over the bar, and it's tricky that these balls fly a lot," he a statement at the time, the EFL said the balls complied with world governing body Fifa's highest standards and were successfully used in other major European leagues, including Italy's Serie A and Spain's La Liga.
