Unai Emery was disappointed but keen to keep perspective after Aston Villa’s Boxing Day loss against Manchester United.
The visitors looked primed to add to their 10-game unbeaten run when they led 2-0 at half-time.
However, United scored three times after the break to snatch the victory.
“I’m disappointed but I’m taking experiences with the players,” Emery said.
“Some players have experiences and other have to play minutes, they have to get those experiences playing in the level we are.
“We are trying to face the opponent like tonight, against Manchester United, being competitive and close to them with the possibility to win. And we did it.
“We played the first 60 minutes being very competitive, controlling the game. When they scored the goal, with their supporters here as well, we were thinking they could feel stronger after their first goal and trying to come back the result.
“They did it, but we reacted very well as well and we had two very good chances with Leon Bailey and John McGinn. They were key moments and they saved them.
“For us, it’s about trying to move on, analyse this result: everything we did, some things being wrong, some things being successful. At the end, it wasn’t enough for the result.
“It’s the first half of the season and it’s been brilliant the way we did. We lost an amazing opportunity tonight to be with three points more after the first 60 minutes we played.”
Emery was eager to move on quickly from the result at Old Trafford and is eyeing Saturday’s game against Burnley at Villa Park as a chance to bounce back.
He said: “The players were disappointed but our reaction can be against Burnley on Saturday – this is our next challenge we have to face after the result we had tonight.
“It’s very important to be strong with our form with our supporters like we were being.
“It’s important to recover the mentality and the physicality of the players for Saturday. We keep going and keep being positive.
“After the result we had tonight that’s a bit more difficult, but we have a lot of positive things in our way to be optimistic.”
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