Unai Emery backs Aston Villa squad ahead of gruelling fortnight

Villa face five matches, four of them in London starting with Saturday’s showdown with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Emery’s men also face Arsenal and “bogey team” Crystal Palace in the Premier League, before heading to Tottenham in the FA Cup, with next Saturday’s visit of Nottingham Forest the only home match.

But the Spaniard believes his players are now being accustomed to the demands of the relentless schedule.

He said: “We are learning a lot in our process here and playing each year 55 matches, more or less.

“This year hopefully we can get again a lot of matches. If we are playing 55 we are going to be close to our target at the end of the season.

“How we are managing it, learning and knowing better the players, which can play 90 minutes in a row is very important.

“Sometimes the doctor or the physio is telling us if someone is feeling something or feeling tired. But everyone is ready and our motivations are so high.”Villa, who sit just three points behind leaders Arsenal and seven clear of Chelsea, will equal a club record of 11 straight wins with a victory on Saturday evening.

Emery is ready to rotate his squad as required but is refusing to look any further ahead than the next match.

“We will need some rotation as well, to try to avoid injury in some players and try also to use fresh legs,” he said. 

“We are going to focus the first match on Saturday with the players available. 

“How we are now is very important, for our momentum. Saturday is a huge test for us. 

“We are very motivated and excited for how we are going to face them tomorrow. We are focusing this match strongly inside.

“I think 90 minutes, mentally, it is going to be important how we show our resilience. We are going to have to be strong defensively.”