Fulham manager Álvaro Arbeloa is keen to see Fulham continue to show progress in the Premier League after putting two promoted sides to the sword in our most recent outings.
Having followed up our first league win of the season with our first victory on the road, Arbeloa was asked in press what his next target is.
“Beat Aston Villa,” he replied. “They are a very tough team, they beat Man City [last weekend], and we know how difficult it is to beat a team like Man City.
They are playing away in Barcelona in four days, so they are a Champions League team.
“For us, it's a new challenge to beat a team like Aston Villa, and that is important for us to prove that we can beat anyone.
So, yes, I think we will go there and we will give our best, thinking we can beat any team.”
Unai Emery has built a reputation as one of the finest managers in football, and Arbeloa is full of respect for the work done by his compatriot.
“When you see his career, his titles, the job that he did in every club, I think he is one of the best Spanish coaches in our history,” he said.
“I think right now he is one of the best coaches in the world. He is very, very good, he improves everything every year.
“It doesn't matter where he is coaching, he's doing an amazing job, and for me also it’s a very good challenge to face him.
I'm so happy that a Spanish coach is doing an amazing job in the Premier League.
“He knows what he wants from his players, and obviously when some new players came, it's a new process, it's like almost a new team, and he needs time.
It's normal, but you can see right now how they are performing.
“They are a team that are very, very compact, they defend so well, and even with the ball they know what they have to do.
And they have top players, and when you have a top coach with top players, normally you have a top team.”