Aston Villa manager Unai Emery previews ‘very good test’ against Chelsea, makes admission about the reverse fixture

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Aston Villa host Chelsea on Saturday evening in a fascinating Premier League fixture at Villa Park.

From a Chelsea perspective, they go into the weekend fixture sitting sixth in the Premier League table. They desperately need a response after losing 3-0 away to Brighton in their most recent match.

As for Villa, they’re ninth in the division table, but they’ll go to within a point of Chelsea if they beat them.

The Chelsea injury list ahead of Saturday’s game includes the addition of Noni Madueke because he picked up a hamstring problem last time out. However, the hope is that Blues manager Enzo Maresca will have a fully fit squad after March’s international break.

• READ MORE: Paul Merson and Chris Sutton completely agree on prediction for Chelsea’s trip to Aston Villa in the Premier League

Unai Emery previews Chelsea match as a ‘very good test’

On Friday afternoon, Villa manager Unai Emery spoke in his pre-match press conference ahead of the showdown with Chelsea.

Interestingly, he mentioned the Blues as a great opponent and admitted his team were second best to them earlier in the season. Back in December, Chelsea beat Villa by a 3-0 scoreline in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge.

“Tomorrow, Chelsea is really a very good test, collectively, individually, very good test,” Emery said via Villa’s official website.

“Of course, two years ago, last year, the first match we played this season against Chelsea was a different moment. Now, hopefully, we can feel stronger.

“Last year against Chelsea at home, in the FA Cup we were out, in the Premier League match we played more or less in February/March, we compete very well but we draw. They were always demanding (of) us a lot, always.

“This year we played there in London, we lost and we deserved to lose. We didn’t perform, we didn’t compete like I think we have to, to get to the level we achieved last year.”

Here is a look at the Chelsea versus Villa head to head since Emery’s been in charge of the Midlands club.

A significant piece of team news is that on-loan Villa defender Axel Disasi isn’t allowed to play against parent club Chelsea on the weekend.

Emery phoned Disasi on a daily basis to convince him to join Villa on loan in the January transfer window. Even though the centre-back has started quite well at his new club, he’s unavailable for Saturday’s match.

How Chelsea brushed aside Aston Villa last time out

When Chelsea played Villa nearly three months ago, their confidence as a team was in a much different place compared to now.

Here is a reminder of the goalscorers in the league result:

• Nicolas Jackson 7′
• Enzo Fernandez 36′
• Cole Palmer 83′

Back in the December match, Joe Hart praised striker Nicolas Jackson for his goal against Villa. The difference is that the Chelsea frontman remains out right now with an injury, which has created a significant issue for the team.

The likes of Jackson, Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana all started and were impressive last time out against Villa, but none of the aforementioned trio are available for Saturday.