Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has opened up about what truly fuelled the club’s remarkable turnaround in form.

After failing to win any of their first six games in all competitions, Villa went on to claim six victories from their next seven ahead of their clash with Liverpool on Saturday night.

The turning point came six weeks ago at the Stadium of Light. When Matty Cash netted Villa’s first league goal in the 67th minute, it looked like Emery’s men would finally end their winless run. But after their 10-man opponents equalised, Emery’s furious post-match reaction changed everything. He blasted his players’ attitude, calling their defending “lazy” and insisting the team lacked identity.

That outburst proved to be the catalyst. Villa responded with five straight wins in all competitions, showing the resilience their manager had demanded. Even after a shock loss to Go Ahead Eagles, they bounced back to beat Manchester City at Villa Park last weekend.

“After that, I spoke to the players individually and collectively,” Emery explained. “Sometimes they need to clearly understand our demands and their exact tasks. We can’t waste time — every day, every session, every match must have 100 per cent focus.”

He continued: “Even in training, we must work seriously and improve what we analyse. Through that, we raise our level. My face is happier now too!

“I want responsibility and maturity at the highest standard. It’s not just about matches — it’s about how we greet each other, how we train, how we act at lunch, how we show energy and positivity in everything. That’s how we grow as a team.”