Unai Emery commended Aston Villa’s tenacity following their first Premier League victory of the season, a 3-2 win over Tottenham on Saturday.
Johan Manzambi opened the scoring for Villa just before half-time, taking advantage of Micky van de Ven’s absence from the field due to a head injury.
Tottenham saw a goal from substitute Mohamed Kudus disallowed, but Nicolas Jackson found the net after Jan Paul van Hecke and Van de Ven couldn’t effectively handle a long ball from Zion Suzuki.
Emiliano Buendia then scored a spectacular third goal from 25 yards out, which ensured that late strikes from Conor Gallagher and Van Hecke weren’t enough to stop Villa from securing three points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“We entered the match with a clear game plan against Tottenham. Defensively, we performed excellently because the players believed in our past strategies here,” Emery stated in a post-match press conference.
“For four straight years, building a resilient team has been essential. We had to stay patient and tough during their attacking phases.”
“We focused on defending and remained committed, allowing us to gradually take control of the match, create scoring opportunities, and ultimately secure the win.”
“Whether it was deserved or not, we’ve achieved our results this way during my tenure here,” he added. “We’re thrilled with how the players followed the plan and how they gained confidence as the game unfolded.”
That connection with the away end pic.twitter.com/puimy2NQhI
— Aston Villa (@AstonVilla) September 19, 2026
Suzuki made an impressive double-save early in the game and troubled Tottenham with his distribution, finishing with a total of seven successful passes into the final third.
“Suzuki’s primary role is to save shots, but he must also aid in our build-up play, which is why we signed him,” Emery explained. “He’s a remarkable goalkeeper who can not only make crucial saves but also initiate attacks with both short and long passes, crucial against teams that press high.”
“Zion is consistently maintaining his performance, and Jackson has clearly shown improvement from earlier matches. This is how he should continue to play,” he concluded.
Fan Take: This win not only marks a significant boost for Aston Villa’s season but also highlights Emery’s growing impact on the team’s strategy and confidence. For soccer fans, it’s exciting to see a manager successfully instill resilience in his squad, which could set the stage for a more competitive league.
Source: www.soccernews.com
