Legia Warsaw coach Kosta Runjaic admits his side will have to be at their best against an Unai Emery-led Aston Villa side boasting an ‘incredible’ home record in the Europa Conference League tonight.
The Polish outfit beat Aston Villa in the opening game of the group-stage back in September. And, should they achieve a repeat of that 3-2 triumph tonight, Legia Warsaw would deliver just Villa’s second home defeat of the entire campaign.
Only Everton, in the League Cup, have triumphed at Villa Park so far this term. A recent 2-1 win over Fulham, meanwhile, equalled a record set all the way back in 1983, Unai Emery’s side rattling off 13 successive Premier League victories on their own soil.
Aston Villa host Legia Warsaw in Europe
“Thursday’s match will be a special match. Both teams have nine points, but Aston Villa is the clear favourite,” Runjaic tells Futbol. “For me, this is the strongest team in the competition.
“Aston Villa are currently in the top four teams in their league. They have won 22 matches this calendar year. I expect Aston Villa to have more possession of the ball than our league rivals. We will have to focus on defence, but also show courage in attack.
“I don’t suspect that Aston Villa will play for a draw tomorrow. They have incredible power at their own stadium.”
Villa, as things stand, are second in the Group E, behind Legia due to their inferior head-to-head record. Runjaic, meanwhile, is keen to test his mettle against one of the finest tacticians on the planet, Emery’s remarkable European record the stuff of legend.
Unai Emery looking for more continental glory
“I don’t know coach Emery personally. He’s definitely a great coach,” Runjaic adds. “You can learn a lot by observing the work style of other trainers. His team is well organised, plays with a high defensive line and plays modern football.
“They are dangerous in direct play and are also very well prepared set pieces. There is much to like about coach Emery’s team. We have to limit mistakes, play with courage and without fear and present our style. We did it in the first match and it gave us the victory.”
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