Emery: "We've shown at moments we're at Barcelona's level"

Emery acknowledged defensive errors but said Villa showed they can compete with Barcelona's level at moments in the Champions League.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery analysed his side's defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League, focusing on the lessons to be learned. He identified ball losses and defensive mistakes as key factors in the result, saying the team's immediate performance was a direct consequence of these errors.

Emery remained optimistic about Villa's trajectory, noting that an equaliser would have reset the match and given them a chance to influence the outcome. He stressed that matches against elite sides like Barcelona are crucial for the club's development. "We've demonstrated at moments we're at their level," Emery said, adding that Villa want to close the gap to Europe's biggest teams over time. He believes the process of growth passes through these high-level encounters.