Unai Emery Ponders Aston Villa's Home Form Decline After Leeds United Draw
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is actively seeking explanations for his team's recent downturn in home performances, following a 1-1 draw with Leeds United in the Premier League. The manager expressed his concerns in a post-match press conference, highlighting a noticeable dip in results at Villa Park over the past few weeks.
Recent Home Record Under Scrutiny
Since a convincing 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest at the start of January, Villa have managed only one win in their last four home league fixtures. This run includes defeats to Everton and Brentford, a narrow win against Brighton, and the recent draw with Leeds. In total, the team has collected just four points from these four matches, a stark contrast to their earlier strong home form that saw them defeat top sides like Arsenal and Manchester City.
Emery reflected on this shift, stating, "We can see it in two ways. One way, losing two points at home. We felt strong here, and it was hard to get points here, even the best teams. Now, four matches at home, we only beat Brighton." He emphasized the need to analyze the situation comprehensively, considering the team's overall position in the table.
Late Drama and Tactical Adjustments
The match against Leeds saw Villa salvage a point with a late equalizer from substitute Tammy Abraham in the 89th minute, mirroring last week's late winner from Tyrone Mings against Brighton, also from a set-piece. Emery detailed the game's progression, noting that the first half unfolded as expected, with Leeds playing competitively. However, Villa found themselves trailing and had to adapt in the second half as Leeds defended deeper.
"We were losing, and we had to try to be positive. The second half changed because they defended lower. We scored in the 89th minute - this is a fantastic point," Emery explained. He described the draw as a good point that should help build confidence moving forward.
Searching for Solutions and Maintaining Focus
When questioned about the reasons behind Villa's home struggles, Emery pointed to factors like clinical finishing and energy levels. "Sometimes we performed like now and were still winning. Maybe we were more clinical or our energy is full. Now, we are trying to recover energy and our mood," he said. Despite recent setbacks against Brentford and Everton, he expressed satisfaction with the team's reaction and resilience.
The manager stressed the importance of continuous improvement and motivation, especially given Villa's current third-place standing in the league. "We are trying to focus on how we can improve and get better with confidence, feeling more comfortable. We have to be motivated about how we are in the table," Emery added. Looking ahead, he confirmed that the team's objective remains clear, with the next step being a match against Wolverhampton.
Emery concluded by underscoring the need for hard work and understanding, stating, "We need to try to understand how we are and why we are like we are. We need to work hard like we always did." As Villa aim to regain their home form, fans and analysts will be watching closely to see if Emery's insights lead to a turnaround in upcoming fixtures.
