30-03-2025, 09:42
HECK
Paul Heckingbottom knows it’s going to take a “big, big effort” from everyone concerned if North End are to secure their spot at Wembley.
PNE are just a step away from reaching the Emirates FA Cup semi-final, with Aston Villa standing in their way on Sunday at Deepdale.
Unai Emery’s side, into the final eight of the UEFA Champions League and pushing for a top four spot in the Premier League, pose a difficult challenge, but Hecky has faith in his team to go about things the right way.
Hecky said: “We're going to have to produce our best performance with the ball and without the ball. With the ball, can we create enough moments to give them problems? Without the ball we've got to be concentrated for the 95 minutes and if we are doing well there'll be a big shift from their approach, from their bench, which makes another challenge in itself.
“So, we have to be wary and we have to get things right on the side to cope with that and then it's about if we do play well as to creating those moments, we've got to capitalise on them.
“It’ll take a big, big effort from everyone. From the 11 that start, the boys that come on off the bench, and then good decisions from the referees and the VAR moments to go our way.”
Unfortunately for North End, there are some key men missing, with the likes of Ali McCann, Brad Potts, Kaine Kesler-Hayden and Ryan Ledson just a few of those unable to feature.
There’s better news as far as Milutin Osmajić is concerned, though, with the striker now back in training, and Jordan Storey has built up his fitness over the international break.
Hecky said: “Everyone's excited about it and looking forward to it. Obviously we've got some disappointed lads who can't play, whether that's through injury, suspension or being ineligible, which is frustrating for everyone, but it's the way it goes.
“It just opens up the door and it's a great opportunity for everyone else. It’s taken a lot for us to get to this stage in terms of a lot of players, a lot of personnel. A lot of people have put a lot of effort in on the pitch to get us through the rounds that we have so far and now it's down to another group of players to try and get one step further.”
While the players will be doing all they can on the pitch, so are the fans off it. They’ve been busy raising money and funding flag initiatives, doing anything they can to offer help to the team by creating a super atmosphere in a sold-out stadium.
“It's a chance for the fans to show off as well now,” added Hecky. “We're at this stage, the quarter-finals, it's broadcast live. The players are going to want to show off. I speak to players all the time and say, ‘Go on and test yourself against the best.’
“It's a great opportunity for our fans to go and show a world audience – not just national – a world audience, how good a place Deepdale is when it's full.
“I’m hoping that it looks fantastic and I certainly know that there will be noise there. I hope all the fans go and show off, and it's a great day for everyone to talk about.”
Dick's brother Unai
Unai Emery spoke with the media at Bodymoor Heath on Friday afternoon, ahead of Aston Villa's trip to Preston North End on Sunday in the FA Cup.
Emery's men visit Deepdale looking to secure their place in the semi-finals of the competition at Wembley, against the Championship outfit.
And the Villa boss met with local and national outlets at the club's training base to look ahead to the encounter, discussing the international break, squad freshness and consistency.
Read key lines from his pre-match press conference below...
On the international break...
Unai Emery
“We had a good break. Of course, we were working, and we were focusing the break to try to improve with the players we were working (with).
“Not a lot (of players), because there were more of them with their national team.
“We used the time as well to analyse the matches we played, deeply, to try to do our best performances collectively and individually.
“From here, for now, until the last match we will play, hopefully for a long time as well.”
On consistency...
Unai Emery
“The season is more or less the consistency we can have, but each moment is different.
“And now, we are in another moment, we have individually and collectively to be very demanding because we were under our expectation, our ambition to get the objective we want for the season.
“Of course, we conceded a lot of goals in the season, we are being sometimes consistent, but not enough.
“For example, we didn’t lose a lot of matches at home, only one in the Premier League, but we draw a lot of matches.
“This means we are consistent, yes, but not enough, because we are drawing more matches than we needed.
“Now we are recovering some injured players, we added other players in the transfer window, more than normal, and of course the adaptation has been different for each player.
“Now, today, Friday 28th March is a key moment, how we are going to face the last months in the competitions we have.
“Of course, the idea is to try to get better and be stronger defensively, like we were before.”
On returning from the break...
Unai Emery
“The international break always is important for the players and, as well, when we arrived here, we had not a lot of players in the national team and we were increasing the players joining with the national team because we were performing well, collectively and individually.
“Of course, it’s better if we are here working with every player, because we were in Dubai four days and really we worked fantastic, but (with) a few players.
“But we have to use it to get our consistency with the players we work (with).
“The players, they were with the national team, they are coming back progressively. Today is the first day with Leon Bailey, with Emiliano Martínez, Robin Olsen and Andrés García.
“Of course, they have to (be) quick again to reintroduce in our structure, in our mentality, in our style, idea, in our match on Sunday, to be focused for it.
“Progressively this week, we were adding the players coming back and we worked good.
“Of course, the first (thing) is try to identify in our mind, our objective, in the next match, firstly on Sunday because it’s very important, and try to recover again our style, idea playing.”
On squad freshness...
Unai Emery
“Two years ago, we finished the season strong, and we achieved the objective in the last two matches playing against Liverpool drawing, and against Brighton winning at home here.
“Last year we finished the season so, so tired. A lot of players injured, not enough energy, and we lost the last match against Crystal Palace away.
“This year my objective and my idea and how we are now planning the rest of the season is to try to be full energy again and every player focusing individually and collectively on the objective we are going to face.”
Paul Heckingbottom knows it’s going to take a “big, big effort” from everyone concerned if North End are to secure their spot at Wembley.
PNE are just a step away from reaching the Emirates FA Cup semi-final, with Aston Villa standing in their way on Sunday at Deepdale.
Unai Emery’s side, into the final eight of the UEFA Champions League and pushing for a top four spot in the Premier League, pose a difficult challenge, but Hecky has faith in his team to go about things the right way.
Hecky said: “We're going to have to produce our best performance with the ball and without the ball. With the ball, can we create enough moments to give them problems? Without the ball we've got to be concentrated for the 95 minutes and if we are doing well there'll be a big shift from their approach, from their bench, which makes another challenge in itself.
“So, we have to be wary and we have to get things right on the side to cope with that and then it's about if we do play well as to creating those moments, we've got to capitalise on them.
“It’ll take a big, big effort from everyone. From the 11 that start, the boys that come on off the bench, and then good decisions from the referees and the VAR moments to go our way.”
Unfortunately for North End, there are some key men missing, with the likes of Ali McCann, Brad Potts, Kaine Kesler-Hayden and Ryan Ledson just a few of those unable to feature.
There’s better news as far as Milutin Osmajić is concerned, though, with the striker now back in training, and Jordan Storey has built up his fitness over the international break.
Hecky said: “Everyone's excited about it and looking forward to it. Obviously we've got some disappointed lads who can't play, whether that's through injury, suspension or being ineligible, which is frustrating for everyone, but it's the way it goes.
“It just opens up the door and it's a great opportunity for everyone else. It’s taken a lot for us to get to this stage in terms of a lot of players, a lot of personnel. A lot of people have put a lot of effort in on the pitch to get us through the rounds that we have so far and now it's down to another group of players to try and get one step further.”
While the players will be doing all they can on the pitch, so are the fans off it. They’ve been busy raising money and funding flag initiatives, doing anything they can to offer help to the team by creating a super atmosphere in a sold-out stadium.
“It's a chance for the fans to show off as well now,” added Hecky. “We're at this stage, the quarter-finals, it's broadcast live. The players are going to want to show off. I speak to players all the time and say, ‘Go on and test yourself against the best.’
“It's a great opportunity for our fans to go and show a world audience – not just national – a world audience, how good a place Deepdale is when it's full.
“I’m hoping that it looks fantastic and I certainly know that there will be noise there. I hope all the fans go and show off, and it's a great day for everyone to talk about.”
Dick's brother Unai
Unai Emery spoke with the media at Bodymoor Heath on Friday afternoon, ahead of Aston Villa's trip to Preston North End on Sunday in the FA Cup.
Emery's men visit Deepdale looking to secure their place in the semi-finals of the competition at Wembley, against the Championship outfit.
And the Villa boss met with local and national outlets at the club's training base to look ahead to the encounter, discussing the international break, squad freshness and consistency.
Read key lines from his pre-match press conference below...
On the international break...
Unai Emery
“We had a good break. Of course, we were working, and we were focusing the break to try to improve with the players we were working (with).
“Not a lot (of players), because there were more of them with their national team.
“We used the time as well to analyse the matches we played, deeply, to try to do our best performances collectively and individually.
“From here, for now, until the last match we will play, hopefully for a long time as well.”
On consistency...
Unai Emery
“The season is more or less the consistency we can have, but each moment is different.
“And now, we are in another moment, we have individually and collectively to be very demanding because we were under our expectation, our ambition to get the objective we want for the season.
“Of course, we conceded a lot of goals in the season, we are being sometimes consistent, but not enough.
“For example, we didn’t lose a lot of matches at home, only one in the Premier League, but we draw a lot of matches.
“This means we are consistent, yes, but not enough, because we are drawing more matches than we needed.
“Now we are recovering some injured players, we added other players in the transfer window, more than normal, and of course the adaptation has been different for each player.
“Now, today, Friday 28th March is a key moment, how we are going to face the last months in the competitions we have.
“Of course, the idea is to try to get better and be stronger defensively, like we were before.”
On returning from the break...
Unai Emery
“The international break always is important for the players and, as well, when we arrived here, we had not a lot of players in the national team and we were increasing the players joining with the national team because we were performing well, collectively and individually.
“Of course, it’s better if we are here working with every player, because we were in Dubai four days and really we worked fantastic, but (with) a few players.
“But we have to use it to get our consistency with the players we work (with).
“The players, they were with the national team, they are coming back progressively. Today is the first day with Leon Bailey, with Emiliano Martínez, Robin Olsen and Andrés García.
“Of course, they have to (be) quick again to reintroduce in our structure, in our mentality, in our style, idea, in our match on Sunday, to be focused for it.
“Progressively this week, we were adding the players coming back and we worked good.
“Of course, the first (thing) is try to identify in our mind, our objective, in the next match, firstly on Sunday because it’s very important, and try to recover again our style, idea playing.”
On squad freshness...
Unai Emery
“Two years ago, we finished the season strong, and we achieved the objective in the last two matches playing against Liverpool drawing, and against Brighton winning at home here.
“Last year we finished the season so, so tired. A lot of players injured, not enough energy, and we lost the last match against Crystal Palace away.
“This year my objective and my idea and how we are now planning the rest of the season is to try to be full energy again and every player focusing individually and collectively on the objective we are going to face.”
Why should a man go to work, if he has the health and strength to stay in bed?