Emery dubs Aston Villa's hard-fought win over Club Brugge 'very, very important'

[p]Emery's side have made a dismal start in the Premier League after a turbulent close season marred by the departures of many of their Europa League-winning stars. They are goalless in the top flight and had mustered just one shot on target in their first three matches.[/p][p]But [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/aston-villa/W00wmLO0/"]Villa[/a]'s opening game of the league phase in Europe's elite club competition provided a welcome tonic as they won for the first time this term.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcginn-john/rgGnzD2e/"]John McGinn[/a] put Villa ahead in the early stages with his team's first goal this season.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vetlesen-hugo/nD7QjiB8/"]Hugo Vetlesen[/a] equalised soon afterwards, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/buendia-emiliano/dYDvGYIu/"]Emiliano Buendia[/a] restored the visitors' lead before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jackson-nicolas/jXg8d5RJ/"]Nicolas Jackson[/a]'s first goal for Villa increased their advantage on the stroke of half-time.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tresoldi-nicolo/nuJC7uWq/"]Nicolo Tresoldi[/a]'s penalty after the interval set up a tense finale, but Villa held firm.[/p][p][b]"We took one step forward today and it was very, very important for our confidence and stability," [/b]Emery said.[/p][p][b]"We had so many chances to get more of an advantage. The second half was a bit more equal.[/b][/p][p][b]"When we were 2-0 ahead, the confidence was very good, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/club-brugge/rgTHIK74/"]Brugge[/a] scored and we could feel a little bit less confidence than we had in the first half. But we finished well, controlling the game like we planned."[/b][/p][infobox id="45e615b0-e521-49e0-bf3c-9fb2423b8bed" /][p]Emery admitted Villa had to sweat it out in the closing stages as Brugge pushed hard for an equaliser. Tresoldi hit the post and had a header saved by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/suzuki-zion/4bDDVvmT/"]Zion Suzuki[/a] in a frantic finale.[/p][p][b]"Playing away in Europe is very difficult. They were working with the supporters, who were very excited. They wanted to win,"[/b] Emery said.[/p][p]Villa won the Europa League last season to end their 30-year trophy drought, but the team that made history by beating [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/freiburg/fiEQZ7C7/"]Freiburg[/a] in Istanbul has been ripped apart in a matter of months.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rogers-morgan/lp4jm80n/"]Morgan Rogers[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/watkins-ollie/rHnOkDD8/"]Ollie Watkins[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tielemans-youri/GtkTQyib/"]Youri Tielemans[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martinez-emiliano/ziCcc5jM/"]Emiliano Martinez[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/digne-lucas/v9Ux4sua/"]Lucas Digne[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/konsa-ezri/4CQLQWTa/"]Ezri Konsa[/a] were all sold in a summer of upheaval.[/p][p]Villa captain McGinn hailed a gritty performance from a "new" Villa after the Scot became his club's all-time leading scorer in European competitions with 12 goals.[/p][p]"To get my first Champions League player of the match award aged 31, I'm very happy," he said.[/p][p][b]"It was so important to show a real gritty performance and get a victory at a very, very tough place to play. The home supporters were excellent and Brugge are a very impressive club, so to win tonight was huge for us.[/b][/p][p][b]"It's a new Villa and it was a big test for the new players to dig in.[/b] [b]It was [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/joao-gomes/rcOLZhUD/"]Joao Gomes[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hemmings-george/h468RYvs/"]George Hemmings[/a]' first Champions League games. It's not easy to go away at a place like this in difficult weather conditions.[/b][/p][p][b]"Club Brugge were pushing and pushing and pushing and we had to stand strong. We managed to do that."[/b][/p][embed guid="ab332914-f0df-4001-85c9-6261c74ab624" url="https://x.com/AstonVilla/status/2097412405731250215" social-type="twitter" /]