Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has issued a warning to Europe's top clubs, asserting that Aston Villa is on a trajectory to become one of the continent's elite once again. The club is set to compete in the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, seeking to add another trophy to their cabinet less than three months after winning the Europa League.
This summer has seen significant changes at Villa Park, with key players Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, and Lucas Digne sold for approximately £150 million combined. These sales were undertaken to ensure compliance with UEFA's financial regulations. Emery, however, maintains that these moves do not alter the club's ambitions.
"If we compare ourselves to other clubs like Man City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, we are competing with them. We don’t have their power… yet," Emery stated. He highlighted the club's substantial efforts, including plans to expand Villa Park to accommodate 50,000 supporters, as a step towards growth. Emery added that the club is increasing its budget through on-pitch results, strategic player sales, and consistent high-level performance, indicating steady progress year after year.
Aston Villa will be without England internationals Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins, along with goalkeeper Emi Martinez, for the Super Cup clash. The trio were granted an extended break following the World Cup and are expected to return to training next week.
Despite the departures, club captain John McGinn expressed confidence in the team's continued competitiveness. McGinn, who joined Villa in 2018 when the club was in the Championship, believes they will remain strong contenders in both the Champions League and the Premier League this season. "We are really excited by the new Aston Villa," McGinn said. "Our expectation is similar to where it has been in the past few seasons, competing with the best in England and Europe. A lot is changing but we have the same manager, the same methods and a desire to achieve more. A lot of people thought we’d reached our ceiling but we’ve proved them wrong."