We have to accept it” – Unai Emery reacts to heavy defeat at Crystal Palace

Unai Emery admitted Aston Villa “deserved nothing” from their 4-1 defeat at Selhurst Park, as Crystal Palace punished a lackluster second-half display. Despite leveling the match early in the second half, Villa collapsed, conceding three more goals to suffer a damaging loss.

“This is the Premier League,” Emery said post-match. “Each match is difficult and away even more. They are in good form and they have a good structure tactically. To stop them was the idea.”

Villa started well and looked in control for the opening stages, but the game slipped away after conceding the opener. Emery felt his team’s strong start counted for little once Palace took their first chance.

“We did fantastic for 30 minutes. We controlled the game and didn’t concede chances or corners,” he said. “The first chance they had, they scored. Until then, we were good. We scored, but VAR refused it. We got progressively worse, controlling less than the first 30 minutes.”

Villa briefly rallied after the break, equalising before conceding again almost immediately. That proved to be a turning point.

“In the second half, we tried to recover our positioning, but we conceded more transitions,” Emery explained.

“We were drawing the match and had again the possibility to get a good result, but conceded the second and third goals.”

Palace, he admitted, simply had the edge in key moments. “They showed us their capacity to dominate the match when they were playing individually and collectively.”
While Villa remain in contention for European qualification, their inability to string results together has become a major concern for Emery.

“We have to be frustrated, but our demands are increasing,” he said.

“Through the Premier League, we are trying to get our first objective of the season, but we are not being consistent and losing very good opportunities.”

A key issue has been their defensive fragility, with clean sheets proving elusive. Emery acknowledged the problem but insisted they are working on solutions.

“We are analysing and we are trying to work on it,” he said. “Through clean sheets, we can feel strong, but we are not being consistent.”
With just three days until their next game, Villa must quickly put this result behind them. They return to action in the FA Cup on Friday night against Cardiff City before turning their attention back to the Champions League.

Emery is keen to shift focus to those competitions while continuing the search for Premier League consistency.

“We have to let the Premier League be in the corner and then have to manage our frustration,” he said. “We have to be motivated and excited [for the other competitions]. We have to keep going and move on.”

Despite their league struggles, he remains confident that Villa can still make this a memorable season.
We are thinking now, there are another two competitions we have for the next weeks to play – in the FA Cup, and to play as well in the Champions League,” he said.

“We will wait for the next match in the Premier League, trying to recover our consistency like we did more or less before, or last year, but this year, it’s been more difficult.”

Emery urged his squad and supporters to stay positive, especially with crucial cup ties ahead.

“Now, we have to be motivated with our supporters in Villa Park in the FA Cup and the Champions League,” he added.

“Of course, we have to accept with a small frustration the result today, and try to recover our consistency in the Premier League for the next month. But of course, be motivated, and be sharing our good moments as well in the FA Cup and Champions League.”