Unai Emery is confident his Aston Villa team can get the better of improving Chelsea tomorrow night.
Villa visit Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup fourth round just three days after Mauricio Pochettino’s men thrashed Middlesbrough 6-1 in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final to secure a place at Wembley.
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Chelsea have won five of their last six games in all competitions and appear to be finding their stride following a period of heavy investment from American owner Todd Boehly.
“They are playing well and getting stronger and getting better. They achieved the first final in the EFL Cup on Tuesday,” said Emery.
“They are going to face us tomorrow and I think they will be playing to win the trophy in this competition.
“I think for them the cup is important and I respect them, of course, but I think if we play like we have been playing, we will be in a position to win tomorrow.”
Unai Emery: “I want to be a contender in this competition.” ???? #EmiratesFACup
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 25, 2024
Villa are fourth in the Premier League following a strong first half to the season. And while the league remains the priority, Emery is not discounting a run in the FA Cup.
He added: “At the start of the season, the first objective is the Premier League, but tomorrow we face a big game and we have to be motivated to continue in this competition, 100 per cent.
“The prestige is very important, it is a trophy. I want to be contenders in this competition.”
