Emery Delighted with Villa’s Poise under Pressure in Comeback Win over Everton

Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - September 14, 2024 Aston Villa manager Unai Emery reacts Action Images via Reuters
Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - September 14, 2024 Aston Villa manager Unai Emery reacts Action Images via Reuters
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Emery Delighted with Villa’s Poise under Pressure in Comeback Win over Everton

Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - September 14, 2024 Aston Villa manager Unai Emery reacts Action Images via Reuters
Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Everton - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - September 14, 2024 Aston Villa manager Unai Emery reacts Action Images via Reuters

A confident Aston Villa remained patient and made no changes in their game plan after going 2-0 down to Everton, manager Unai Emery said after his side pulled off a 3-2 victory at home in the Premier League on Saturday.

Emery, who last season led Villa to their first top-four finish in the league since 1995-96, was happy with his players' response under pressure, as Ollie Watkins scored a brace and substitute Jhon Duran sealed the win with a long range left-footer.

"Losing 2-0, we were playing well and we were dominating, imposing our positioning and creating chances. We didn´t score and we conceded two opportunities to them and they scored," he told reporters.

"The supporters were really, really understanding of how we could come back the result by being patient, playing with our structure and not changing anything."

The former Arsenal and Paris St Germain manager said Colombia forward Duran, who has come off the bench to score the decisive goal for Villa in three out of four league games this season, has a habit of scoring spectacular long-rangers.

"Jhon Duran did it last year. I remember a goal against Liverpool and Ajax. His shooting is fantastic... when he is trying, we have confidence that he can score a goal like that," Emery said.

The Spaniard also praised Watkins, who found the net for the first time in this campaign.

"We have to be proud of our two strikers," Emery added.

Villa will play their first European top-tier match since 1983 on Tuesday, when they visit Swiss side BSC Young Boys to kick off their Champions League campaign.



Gadecki Continues Impressive Run in Guadalajara, Reaches her 1st WTA Semifinal

Olivia Gadecki of Australia in action against Martina Trevisan of Italy during their quarter finals match at the Guadalajara Open WTA 500 tennis tournament in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, 13 September 2024.  EPA/Francisco Guasco
Olivia Gadecki of Australia in action against Martina Trevisan of Italy during their quarter finals match at the Guadalajara Open WTA 500 tennis tournament in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, 13 September 2024. EPA/Francisco Guasco
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Gadecki Continues Impressive Run in Guadalajara, Reaches her 1st WTA Semifinal

Olivia Gadecki of Australia in action against Martina Trevisan of Italy during their quarter finals match at the Guadalajara Open WTA 500 tennis tournament in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, 13 September 2024.  EPA/Francisco Guasco
Olivia Gadecki of Australia in action against Martina Trevisan of Italy during their quarter finals match at the Guadalajara Open WTA 500 tennis tournament in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, 13 September 2024. EPA/Francisco Guasco

Olivia Gadecki continued her impressive run in Mexico on Friday by advancing to the Guadalajara Open semifinals after beating Martina Trevisan 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.
The 22-year-old Australian qualifier, who is ranked 152nd, converted eight of 10 break-point chances to beat Trevisan, who was a Roland Garros semifinalist in 2022, and reach a WTA semifinal for the first time, The Associated Press reported.
Gadecki arrived in Mexico with just two wins over top-100 players but she has recorded three this week, including a second-round win over world No. 11 Danielle Collins.
“There’s a lot of things I’m proud of this week,” Gadecki said.
In the semifinals, Gadecki will play Camila Osorio, who defeated Kamilla Rakhimova, 7-6 (6), 6-1.
In the other semifinal, fourth-seeded Caroline Garcia will face fifth-seeded Magdalena Frech, who advanced with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Marina Stakusic.
Garcia advanced earlier in a walkover after Marie Bouzkova withdrew due to an illness.
The tournament is being played on hard courts at the Complejo Panamericano de Tenis in Guadalajara.