Unai Emery calmly accepted the first leg defeat to Nottingham Forest in the Europa League.

In the first leg of the Europa League semi-final on Thursday, Aston Villa suffered a disappointing 0-1 defeat away to Nottingham Forest.

Despite Aston Villa's nine-game winning streak in European competitions coming to an end, manager Unai Emery displayed remarkable composure and confidence in his post-match interview. He focused his remarks on adjusting his mindset and looking ahead to the second leg.

When discussing the defeat, Emery appeared quite composed. He stated, "We faced a similar predicament two years ago in the UEFA semi-final. Beating an opponent in the semi-final is never easy, and everything that happened on the pitch for 90 minutes was within my expectations."

Regarding the one-goal deficit, Emery emphasized that the game was only halfway through: "We've only played the first 90 minutes. There are still 90 minutes to go, and there might even be extra time and a penalty shootout."

Emery stated that he is currently maintaining an excellent balance and is satisfied with the match result, the players' on-field reactions, and the fans' support.

Looking ahead to the crucial second leg at Villa Park next week, Emery issued a passionate appeal to the home fans, hoping they would create a thrilling atmosphere. He said enthusiastically, "We must remain optimistic about the home atmosphere and enjoy playing this game. Enjoy the moment we are in, enjoy the semi-final stage."

"Of course, if we can't win the game, then we don't deserve to advance to the final. I am very motivated and excited right now. We will stay calm, stick to our established game plan, and do our best to complete the comeback at home."

Image source: Internet/Aston Villa official website