Unai Emery wants Aston Villa's players to bury his hoodoo today - relaxing while they do so.
The Spaniard lines up for today’s west Midlands derby having NEVER beaten Wolves. The Molineux men - and Liverpool - are the only sides that Villa’s boss has not defeated during his 17-month reign at Villa Park.
But Emery also never experienced victory over the Black Country club while he was in charge of Arsenal. Villa’s boss was aware of the painful statistic but told his squad to revel in the responsibility of chasing a top-four spot.
He said: “Yes, the last five matches Villa have played against Wolverhampton, we didn’t win. Myself, as a coach, with Arsenal or Villa, I didn’t win. I know it.
“I played against them with Villa when Nuno Espirito Santo was there. It was very competitive. And two times against Julen Lopetegui. The same. And this year, with Gary O’Neil. I respect them a lot.
“So this will be a great match for us. We’ll have to do a lot of things very well to beat them.
“Their transition is very good, their organisation is strong. They have good players in duels, the midfielders, I like a lot.”
Villa, who sit in fourth, enjoy a three-point lead over Spurs - who have a game in hand - but the club is entering unchartered territory. The former European Champions have not qualified for the competition since it was re-branded and re-worked as the Champions League.
Asked what could make the key difference, Emery said: “Now we are in the moment, the message is: ‘Enjoy.’
“Focus on the enjoyment, working and enjoy gathering here, in the hotel and the dressing-room. Respect each team, each competition and play with discipline.
“We create a strong structure with our ideas and try to keep it the same as we did before. We try to play seriously, disciplined - disturb nothing - but control your emotions, even losing, because we showed we have been able to come back from some results in those difficult moments.
“Of course, if we are winning, keep going but, above all - enjoy.”
Emery will give a late fitness test to Jacob Ramsey ahead of the game. The former England Under-21 international trained with the first-team squad for the first time towards the end of the week. Villa’s boss sprang a surprise during the last fixture before the international break by naming Jhon Duran to play alongside England striker Ollie Watkins.
The experiment was called to a halt after 45 minutes and Villa’s boss says the young Colombian needs time on the pitch.
He added: “Maybe if Jhon was playing in another country, another league, maybe he could exploit his potential more quickly. But here in the Premier League, it’s the most difficult league in the world with the best central defenders, teams and for him, the challenge is bigger than it is in other country.
“We need time, and patience, we need to help him, support him and make a plan in his process. This is the idea I have - and I’m doing.”