Unai Emery Concerned About Defensive Form Heading into Bayern Munich Fixture

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery issued a warning to his team, emphasizing the need for defensive improvement before their Champions League clash with Bayern Munich on October 2nd in Munich.

The Midlands side have let in nine goals in six English Premier League games this season and have yet to keep a clean sheet. The Villans have registered just eight clean sheets from their previous 44 league matches.

Emery said on Oct 1: “We are not defending like last year. It’s not for the defenders, the goalkeeper, it’s for everyone. The first defenders are the strikers and the first attacking player is the goalkeeper.

“We have to improve because we cannot concede the goals we are conceding each match we are playing. I believe in our work, but we are conceding more goals than normal.”

But he refused to single out any player for blame, adding: “Football is mistakes, we have to accept we are making mistakes.

“I am trying to rectify my mistakes, tactically when I am analysing my decisions during the match and it’s my responsibility to correct those and not repeat them. For the players, it’s the same.”

Worryingly for Villa, Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany has seen the German giants score 30 times in his first seven matches across all competitions, including nine in their Champions League opener against Dinamo Zagreb.

Additionally, Bayern striker Harry Kane returned to training on Oct 1 after sustaining an ankle injury on Sept 28.

Kane, who has a history of ankle problems, was replaced in the closing minutes of the home 1-1 draw with Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.

The England captain took to the pitch on Oct 1 at Bayern’s Sabener Strasse training ground for the first 15 minutes of the session open to the media.

Bayern said on Sept 29 the club’s medical team was encouraged by exam results and that Kane was undergoing “intensive treatment”.

On stopping Kane, Emery said: “We analyse the tactical areas collectively and then you have to stop the players. He knows us and we know him but his capacity and potential will be on the pitch.”

Six-time European champions Bayern are top of the Champions League table after thrashing Dinamo, with Kane scoring four goals, including three penalties.

He has scored 10 goals in seven games this season.

Said Kane of Villa: “They have a good team, they deserve to play in the Champions League after their great season...

“It will be a huge atmosphere, it will be their first Champions League game in a very long time, it will be special for them.”

Villa, who beat Bayern to lift the European Cup in 1982 in Rotterdam, are returning to Europe’s premier competition for the first time in 41 years. They opened their campaign with a 3-0 win at Young Boys.

Said midfielder Jacob Ramsey: “When I was coming through (the academy), we were quite a big distance away from playing Champions League. Now I’m in the first team, and it’s the reality...

“When you say Bayern Munich at Villa Park in the Champions League – no extra motivation needed.”

But in a warning to Villa, Bayern and Germany legend Lothar Matthaus said Bayern are now playing “even better” than during Pep Guardiola’s stint in Bavaria.

In his Sky Deutschland column, he wrote: “Guardiola also had good starts, quick passes, and frequent positional changes, but not as clearly defined. The play now moves more forward than sideways or backward... 

“When I see how Kim Min-jae played on Saturday, I understand why he was the best defender in Serie A two years ago. It’s not just the ‘Kanes’ or (Jamal) ‘Musialas’, but also the quieter players doing their jobs well.

“I think the players are having fun, and the atmosphere in the team is good.” AFP,