Aston Villa manager Unai Emery described his side’s 1-1 draw away to Bournemouth as a fair result, praising a strong first-half display before acknowledging a shift in momentum after the break.
The third-placed side earned a valuable point to extend their unbeaten away run in the Premier League to six matches, a result that aligned with the tough test predicted by SoftFootball ahead of the clash between in-form Bournemouth and Villa’s top-four push. Despite ongoing midfield injuries, Villa once again showed resilience on the road.
In his post-match interview shared by the club’s official X account, Emery reflected on a first half he felt Villa largely controlled, both defensively and in their attacking intent. He explained that while Bournemouth posed questions early on, his side responded with composure and structure.
As he put it:
The first half, we played a fantastic game. Of course, they were demanding us with defence, but we defended well. They created a few chances, but we defended well and the goalkeepers saved us. It was a fantastic match.
That control allowed Villa to build momentum, something Emery felt was crucial given their recent schedule and injury challenges, which have contributed to three draws in their last four league outings.
Emery then turned his focus to how Villa used that momentum going forward before the interval. He stressed that his team were creating genuine attacking opportunities and looked capable of finding a winning goal.
In his words:
And the second half, we deserved to be winning. We did the first half because we created chances well and we were, in our momentum, creating a good option in attack to get something more.
However, the Villa boss was clear that the game changed significantly after the restart, with Bournemouth seizing control and pushing Villa deeper.
That shift in balance forced Villa into a more defensive posture, limiting them to just one clear opening. Emery openly acknowledged that drop in attacking output while highlighting the effort his players put in without the ball.
He said:
But the second half, the match changed completely. And they were pushing more. They were dominating more. They were getting chances more than us. We only got one chance. Gosh, it was very clear chances. But we really didn’t compete like the first half.
Even so, he was keen to underline the discipline shown in key moments.
He said:
But of course, we defended fantastic… with the goalkeeper, with the defender. And we did a fantastic job in set pieces, in throw-ins.
For Emery, that collective effort justified the final outcome. He felt neither side did enough across 90 minutes to fully deserve all three points.
He said:
And I think this point is something fair for both teams. And we deserved this point as well. Of course, they deserved maybe something more, but the match in 90 minutes was equal for both sides.
That sense of balance was important for a Villa side balancing domestic ambitions with their European momentum, as previously highlighted by SoftFootball following their dramatic Europa League win over Salzburg and Emery’s wider continental aims.
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When asked about the value of taking a point away from home, Emery framed it as part of the bigger picture in a demanding league.
He said:
Yes, we know the Premier League is very difficult and we must be resilient sometimes… and today this point I think can help us.
For Aston Villa, it was another demonstration of maturity, resilience, and belief in a season that continues to test their depth but reward their consistency.
