Nicolas Jackson was delighted after his brace, which helped Aston Villa beat Manchester City 2-1 on Saturday. The striker paid tribute to Unai Emery, his team-mates and the supporters after the result, which ended City’s perfect start to the Premier League season and gave Villa their first home league win of the campaign.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Jackson reflected on his decisive performance. The striker scored both of Villa’s goals, ending Enzo Maresca’s side’s run of seven consecutive league wins. He insisted that scoring was simply part of his job.

“It’s my job, so I’m very happy to do it every time,” Jackson said. “I hope I don’t get injured so I can keep working for the coach and the team. I’m very happy we won, and that’s the most important thing for me.”

Jackson thriving under Emery

Jackson has now scored six goals in his last six appearances, and seven in 11 matches in all competitions. He is thriving under Emery, who coached him at Villarreal. The striker, whom Maresca let go at Chelsea before he arrived to replace Ollie Watkins, credits the coach and his team-mates with helping him settle in quickly. “I’m very happy, you know. The most important thing is that I’m very happy with the coach, the players in the team and the supporters,” Jackson explained. He added: “It’s easier thanks to the coach and the players, of course. It’s an incredible dressing room, an incredible coach.”

Jackson acknowledged the scale of the challenge while stressing the importance of the three points. “It was incredible, difficult, you know, but we won, and that was the most important thing. We know they are a very strong team, they’re top of the table, so we’re very happy to have won,” Jackson said. He concluded: “Thank God, we got our first home league win.” Aston Villa will look to build on this momentum against Bournemouth in the English League Cup, before a Premier League match against Fulham.

Unai Emery: “He was shooting as if he were playing rugby!”

Unai Emery did not hide his delight after the final whistle, highlighting the physical and technical progress Jackson has made since his transfer from Chelsea this summer.

“The way he works, defends, competes for duels – wow. He has the power needed to attack spaces and win duels. His challenge, when he has scoring chances, has been to always put the ball in a corner of the goal.”

The coach then humorously compared these chances with Jackson’s earlier attempts, suggesting the striker used to aim far too high when he was in the penalty area. Emery joked: “At the start of the season, he was shooting so high it looked as if he were playing rugby. So he is improving in that area too. He does what is asked of him.”

wdiallo@lequotidien.sn

(With Goal)