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Unai Emery was trying to keep a lid on the excitement levels after his Aston Villa side outclassed stuttering Manchester City in Wednesday\u2019s 1-0 win to move above the defending champions and into third place.<\/p>\n
Leon Bailey\u2019s deflected strike in the 74th minute was enough to seal a 14th straight home win for Villa and add to the growing sense of belief that something special is brewing in the west Midlands.<\/p>\n
Pep Guardiola declared that Emery\u2019s side should \u201cdefinitely\u201d be considered among the title contenders after watching his depleted side struggle to contain a Villa team who had 22 shots at goal to City\u2019s two.<\/p>\n
But Emery played down any title talk and insisted there is still much work to do in developing his side, who face leaders Arsenal at home on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe created lots of chances and we controlled the attack in the high press,\u201d Emery said. \u201cWe were believing. In my career, hopefully more in the next weeks, months and years I can continue improving as a coach and with the team I am trying to build.<\/p>\n
\u201c(The performance) was fantastic but we must keep a balance. The dressing room is happy, but the next challenge is on Saturday. (On Thursday) we are focusing again on Saturday.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wednesday night was Emery\u2019s 50th game in charge. When the Spaniard arrived a little more than a year ago, Villa were near the foot of the table and fearing a relegation battle but he took them into the Europa Conference League and now the Champions League looks a genuine possibility.<\/p>\n
Asked to reflect on his first 50 games, Emery pointed to last February, when back-to-back 4-2 home defeats at the hands of Leicester and Arsenal offered a learning moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can come back in my mind and think how we were when we started this process,\u201d he said. \u201cWe lost against Leicester and Arsenal at home, 4-2. We couldn\u2019t concede eight goals in two matches at home like we did.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a key moment when we reacted in a meeting with the players, focusing more our idea and our style, building and being very demanding in it. I think the players, they reacted very well and the way we did, we started doing in that moment, I think we are still being very demanding and keeping it.\u201d<\/p>\n
City boss Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Villa\u2019s performance but admitted he needed to change the dynamic of his own side, now winless in four league outings as they lose ground in their title defence.<\/p>\n
The absence of Rodri and Jack Grealish through suspension, plus the loss of Jeremy Doku to injury, limited Guardiola\u2019s options and they lost the midfield battle.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the first half, we struggled to follow what we spoke (about),\u201d Guardiola said. \u201cWe adjusted something at half-time and it was much better and the team had a better dynamic but we didn\u2019t find the players to make the assist or cross or pass.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t have the feeling that we are going to do something and we missed it\u2026We have to accept it when a team is better and recognise it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to change the dynamic on Sunday at Luton.\u201d<\/p>\n