Unai Emery admits Brighton & Hove Albion can ‘teach’ Aston Villa a lesson when the Seagulls visit Villa Park. He likes the ‘different’ styles Roberto De Zerbi has embraced.
The Villans play host to the Amex Stadium natives in the Premier League in Saturday’s 12:30 kick-off slot. It pits two teams with similar goals and similar starts to the season against each other. Emery’s Aston Villa and De Zerbi’s Brighton are both in the hunt to qualify for Europe.
De Zerbi led the Seagulls into Europe for the first time in the club’s history last season with a spot in the Europa League. While Emery turned Aston Villa’s fortunes around to claim a spot in the Conference League. He brought UEFA nights back to Villa for the first time since 2011.
Emery admits Brighton can ‘teach’ Aston Villa a lesson
Brighton have now started this season strongly to be third in the Premier League table after six games. Aston Villa are three points behind the Seagulls in sixth place ahead of hosting De Zerbi’s side. And Emery admits his team can learn from how the Italian has Brighton playing.
“I always try to watch the teams we are going to face,” he said, via The Guardian. “But when there are some teams that are especially different that can maybe teach us different tactical ideas I really focus on them, and one of those is Brighton.
“As coaches, we want to add something if we can be better. I like to analyse every team we are facing and then try to add, especially [from] teams that are doing something different at set pieces, tactically, offensively or defensively.
“The most difficult way is to build, to create a style keeping possession, trying to avoid the opponents’ pressing and I appreciate a lot those teams and their coaches.
“The most important one is maybe [Pep] Guardiola and now De Zerbi, as well, has been a little bit different and very, very successful.”
The Villans are unbeaten in five against the Seagulls
Brighton have been sensational so far this season and have scored more goals (18) than any other club – Aston Villa have scored 12. The Seagulls also boast a superior defensive record to the Villans with eight goals allowed to 10. Their efforts have led to five wins and one loss.
A trip to Aston Villa may present Brighton with a firm test on Saturday, though. Emery’s side have only conceded one goal in their two matches at Villa Park so far. But 15 of the Seagulls’ league-high goal tally have been from open play. So, they will fancy their chances of scoring.
It speaks volumes for Emery as a manager that he still wants Aston Villa to learn from teams like De Zerbi’s Brighton, too. The Villans did the double over the Seagulls last season and are unbeaten in their past five Premier League games. Aston Villa won 2-1 both times last term.
The post ‘Different’: Unai Emery admits how Brighton can ‘teach’ Aston Villa a lesson at Villa Park appeared first on HITC.
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