Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is quickly turning his attention to the UEFA Champions League after their 1-0 win over Southampton in the Premier League.
Jhon Duran's first-half goal sealed back-to-back league wins for Emery after three successive top-flight defeats to rivals Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham.
The win against the Saints is a vital boost for Emery ahead of a crucial few weeks of action before the end of 2024.
Villa travel to RB Leipzig on December 10, where they will look to make their case for a place in the round of 16, followed by four more league matches this month.
The immediate focus for Emery is on Leipzig, with Villa's contrasting European form a cause for concern despite a brilliant start to their Champions League debut.
Three consecutive wins in their first appearance in the competition since its renaming – including a historic 1-0 home win over Bayern Munich – put Villa in a strong position, but defeat to Club Brugge and a 0-0 draw with Juventus ruined their victory brought to a standstill. momentum.
The former Arsenal boss wants this result to serve as a platform for his team ahead of their tricky trip to Germany in midweek.
Consecutive Premier League wins at Villa Park in a week 👊#AVLSOU || #UpTheVilla pic.twitter.com/z7ghCye3g7
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 7, 2024
“Throughout the 90 minutes we had chances to score more, but at times they dominated possession. We managed to find a way to win,” BBC Sport said.
“The most important thing is how we feel more and more comfortable on the pitch. We had to use substitutions because we have the Champions League on Tuesday. Three games in nine days. We have to be ready with the players we have available.” try to enjoy the competition.
“The Champions League is something we have to enjoy, but we are also focusing on the difficulties in the Premier League, and the challenge against Nottingham Forest is something different. But we have to try to reach the next round of the Champions League.” “
Next up for Villa is the Midlands derby with Forest, followed by a crucial match at home to Manchester City on December 21.
A win for Villa moves them up to fifth in the table, but the defeat for Southampton registers as their twelfth league defeat of the season so far, with Russell Martin's side still at the foot of the table.
Individual mistakes become a theme and centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis was robbed by Duran for Villa's winner, while Martin was left with a familiarly frustrating story for his team.
“We gave away a bad goal when it was a good, tight game. We changed shape and then the game became a transition game. They tried to find another goal so it became very open,” he said.
“We're two against one, and we had a chance to clear the ball, but we don't. It's another mistake. We forced them for a long time, and then we had another two against one, and he [Duran] somehow comes out with the ball and scores.”
Next up for Southampton is a home game against Tottenham next weekend, followed by an EFL Cup quarter-final at home to Liverpool on December 18.
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