'Still in our hands' - Unai Emery staying positive despite third straight Premier League defeat for Aston Villa
Unai Emery has reminded his players Villa’s top-five fate is still in their own hands despite Sunday’s 3-1 defeat at Manchester United.
The loss equalled Villa’s worst-ever run under Emery of three straight Premier League defeats as they fell three points behind third-placed United in the standings.
But they still have a three-point advantage of their own over Chelsea and Emery said: “It’s still in our hands. When we were in a very good run, we were so confident and it was difficult to lose.
“Now we are in a bad moment and we have to keep the balance, like we are doing.”
Villa were made to pay for a lack of quality in the final third as they were beaten at Old Trafford for the fifth straight time under Emery.
Ross Barkley’s equaliser cancelled out Casemiro’s opener for the home side but with the visitors on top, Matheus Cunha restored the home side’s lead, before Benjamin Sesko put the match beyond doubt early on.
Villa held an 11-point lead over United in January but have won just four of their last 12 league matches.
Emery said: “We were for a long time there but United overcame us. Liverpool are close and over Chelsea, we still have still have an advantage to keep.
“We must get better and stronger than we are showing in the last matches.
“But I am positive because we are working and the players are aware how we want to keep it, the position we are in.
“There are still a lot of matches to play. I want to play. I don’t want to finish the season. I am so, so motivated with the team. We are very motivated.”
