“We want to add offensively more moments and to keep ball possession better than [vs Chelsea]. That is the key - defend like we did against Chelsea and to try to control the game more with the ball.

“We are excited to play today and excited to show our best performance.

“We are going to try and continue with our idea and with a new coach I think they [Leicester] are going to change something. We are going to try and be focused on our work and try and win here.”

“The key is to try and be consistent and be competitive. We have to be demanding of ourselves and be ambitious.”

Unai Emery, pre-match.


“I want to thank the supporters.

They were with us as well enjoying and trying to support us. They have a very big responsibility as well to try and help us to play and to be competitive and to get the points. We want to share our good moments with them.

“Bertrand Traore! He’s very appreciated in the dressing room. Everybody loves him. He decided to come back [in January] to help us. He was progressing because he was injured at the beginning and, today, everyone is happy.

“He’s a very good guy. He has good skills, good 1-vs-1. He has the capacity to score and he helps us. The goal is great for him.

“We have to be consistent now in the top 10.

“Of course, with those victories we have added six points in the table. Now, we can add another step ahead thinking to be candidate to be in the European position.

“But it’s going to be very difficult because of Brighton, Brentford - they’re playing very well. We’re now with them - Chelsea and Liverpool as well, they have to be in Europe next year and we have to fight with them to be in Europe. They will react as well. We can have ambition and motivation to try to be a candidate.

“I tried to use my experiences here and to do one process: to be competitive and to work tactically in different ways like we are doing. Being organised defensively and offensively. We are feeling good. I think the players are trying to understand that we have to be very demanding.

“We have to work, practice and be together because football is very difficult. We escaped from the bottom because the players have been very committed to the work. But we have to add a new target in our next matches. We can’t be the next candidate to be in the Europa position without this.

“We’re not going to stop or relax. Tomorrow we’re going to rest but Thursday and Friday we’re going to focus on the match on Saturday because it’s going to be very difficult against Nottingham. We want to be connected with the supporters at home.

“We are progressing and quickly being competitive. I arrived here when [Villa] didn’t win one match away. It’s not normal like we are doing away in this competitive way. I’ve been very demanding with them because winning away is more difficult than winning at home. Now it’s different for us - more difficult at home for us rather than away.

“The idea is to create and build a team and a way. That is the idea every day when I speak with the owners and with the players. I’m telling them that we have to be professional way. We have to improve and accept sometimes big criticism because we want to be competitive.

“We have to create a strong mentality away, that was the idea. And if we can add now a new objective in our matches from here until the end - we are going to do it. Now we are in the top 10. We have to prepare now for Saturday. We will improve ourselves.

“I don’t analyse other strikers. For us, [Ollie Watkins] is very important. He’s not only scoring but his commitment every day trying to add more work, watching his clips. He’s the first defence in our idea, trying to be consistent. He’s working very well with the high pressing. He’s trying to fight with the defenders. He’s scoring and he’s adding the best quality as a striker - the goal.”

Unai Emery.


“I like to take challenges, always, with my striker, with my coaching. Because I like to be offensive and to be a winner.

“The striker is very important to me. I spoke with [Watkins] at the beginning about the relationship here. I told him that I want the best of you and the way he is doing; practicing, being humble to improve. This is the way.

“Then, he has a big career to do in his future. It’s very important as well to try and speak about other players because he is not going to score if his teammates aren’t helping him to do it.

“For us, Ollie Watkins is very important. He’s not only scoring but his commitment every day trying to add more work, watching his clips. He’s the first defence in our idea, trying to be consistent. He’s working very well with the high pressing. He’s trying to fight with the defenders. He’s scoring and he’s adding the best quality as a striker - the goal.”

Unai Emery.


“I’ve been frustrated in the past because I know I can hit these sorts of levels.

“Maybe I was trying too hard because I know I’m capable of it. It’s nice that I’m showing people what I’m capable of doing, and long may it continue.”

Ollie Watkins.


“Great win, three points and I’m on the scoresheet again, so I’m very happy.

“It’s always what you dream about when you come on as a substitute, try to make an impact, try to help the team.

“I was coming in and we were drawing 1-1, we really wanted to win this game so I tried to help the team as much as possible.

“I was happy, I was lucky also that I was rewarded with the winning goal. So, I’m happy for the team.

“We have a good squad of players and friends, so we are in a good way and we are in a good place.

“We have a good atmosphere in and around the pitch, this is really important for the rest of the season and for the future of this team.

“Some things I don’t control like injuries and other things.

“Under the previous manager I was pulled out of the first team squad and went training for two weeks with the under-23s before I went out on loan.

“It was really frustrating for me. But it is part of our job and part of football.

“This is behind me now and I am just focused now on what I have to do on the pitch to try to help the team and give love to the fans to keep on working on the pitch, this is what a football player can do.

“I had a conversation with the manager from ages ago as I played against him a lot of times.

“He believed in me and I think he is on my side and I want to give back so he doesn’t believe in me for nothing. I am also trying to give back to the team and the fans who have supported me.

“It feels good for me because I travelled a lot the last two seasons with a lot of injuries and had some trouble with the previous manager. The new manager gave me a new chance.

“I came back from my loan injured and had to work hard to get fit and then the team was doing well. I have to work hard to get back in the team but I think I am in a good way and will keep on working hard. I will try to help as much as possible when I get my chance.”

Bertrand Traoré.