Cash hails Emery after Villa beat Manchester City
Matty Cash praised Unai Emery after Villa beat Manchester City 2-1, extending their unbeaten run to seven games as Jackson scored twice.
· Kickhell
Updated Oct 26, 2026
Aston Villa full-back Matty Cash praised manager Unai Emery as a “tactical genius” after Villa beat Manchester City 2-1 in the Premier League on Saturday, with Nicolas Jackson scoring twice.
Emery marked four years in charge at Villa Park with a fourth successive home league win against City. Villa came from behind after City equalised, with Jackson scoring again to secure the victory.
“He's just a tactical genius. Especially against City at our place, I think over the last few years, we've been really good,” Cash said. “He's always got a new plan for something. He's always coming up with new ideas.”
The Poland international also discussed his personal duel with City winger Jérémy Doku, stressing the need for individual responsibility on the pitch.
“The manager gives us tasks and stuff, but I think you have to take responsibility on the pitch yourself,” Cash added. “He's on the sideline – he can't be doing it for you on the pitch. I do a lot of work on wingers and how I can stop them.”
Cash credited his teammates for their contributions, singling out Boubacar Kamara, Victor Lindelöf and Jackson. “Bouba comes in and helps me cover as well. He's always talking. Vic at the back was amazing, and Nico up front was unbelievable.”
Emery said Villa had changed their day-to-day approach after league defeats to Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Brentford, and praised the team's composure after conceding. He called Villa Park their “fortress” and said the supporters' energy had been “really fantastic”.
“We responded very well and kept calm after their goal. We continued in our game plan,” Emery said. He described facing City as a measure of Villa's ambition, calling them “one of the best teams in the Premier League and in Europe and in the world”.
Jackson has scored four goals in seven Premier League appearances this season. The victory extended Villa's unbeaten run to seven matches, including four wins, and left them sixth with 11 points from eight games. They travel to Bournemouth on Wednesday before hosting Fulham the following Saturday.
