Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Paris St-Germain in the French capital (20:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
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Emery began by reflecting on his time as PSG boss: “I spent two years here. I am very thankful and I learned and had experiences. I am trying to transform for my moment now as a coach. Feeling good.”
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More on his return: “It is the first time I am here again in Paris. It is something special for me and I am very proud of how I am coming back here playing Champions League with Aston Villa.”
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He rates this PSG team very highly: “Based on the way they beat Liverpool with fantastic football, now, with Real Madrid, with Barcelona, PSG are favourites in the Champions League.”
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On his journey at Villa: “Aston Villa is a historic club in the world and they won the European Cup in 1982. When I arrived here I knew this history. My challenge was to be contending for trophies, to play in Europe again, and to play Champions League is amazing. To keep it consistent is my next challenge.”
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More on what this match means to the club: “To play a Champions League quarter-final in Paris is something really special and amazing for everybody who is involved with Aston Villa but something we want to be consistently doing. We have to respond to everything they do tactically and it is a huge challenge for me.”
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On how the squad is feeling: “We are feeling confident and comfortable in this competition. Our objective is to compete, take our opportunities, and to enjoy how we are doing it.”
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On mid-season addition Marcus Rashford: “He’s a good guy. He’s humble, he is a very good professional player, he’s really happy with his team-mates. He’s demanding of himself and I think he’s playing free and comfortable. We try to connect with him as a person firstly and then as a player.”
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When asked about the welcome Emiliano Martinez will receive from the PSG fans, Emery said: “He is mature and he is responsible. He is getting better at controlling his emotions. When he arrived at Aston Villa to now it is a different Emi Martinez. He is a better player, better goalkeeper, and now my conversation with him is to always focus on football.”
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On opposition boss Luis Enrique: “He is one of the best coaches in the world. I faced him a lot of times and always it is difficult tactically. He is very demanding with how he is creating and building his team. They are very good in pressing and with the ball they are a team who keeps the ball and being so aggressive and intense in each action.”
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