Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has urged patience as he works to rebuild the team's forward line, acknowledging that the integration of numerous new players requires time. The club has failed to score in its opening three Premier League matches.
Emery's messaging and detailed training sessions, which can last between 90 minutes and two hours, are designed to instill his methods in the squad. However, he noted the challenge of integrating 10 new players, including signings like Nicolas Jackson, Moussa Diaby, and Arnau Martínez, without the usual extended periods for development. "We must be patient, and we should understand that we are rebuilding the team," Emery stated. "Now they must get our way and demands, keeping the same mentality that we built, but with different players."
Emery highlighted the urgency of the situation, contrasting it with the time he would typically prefer for such a rebuilding process. He recalled January transfers where players like Douglas Luiz and Ollie Watkins were brought in, with the expectation of immediate impact. Luiz returned to Juventus, and while Watkins decided to stay at Aston Villa, the deals did not fully meet expectations. "Now is no time to think two weeks or three weeks forward," Emery said. "We must try to focus on each match."
Recent matches have seen limited participation from summer signings. Only Jackson and goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen started the draw at Hull, with defender Calegari also left out of the squad. "Each match is a lot of information we can have," Emery explained. "We are collecting information individually and collectively about the players, about the structure, about the capacity to build the team."
Despite the goalless start, Emery expressed optimism about the players' response. The team is preparing for its next match in the Champions League, a competition Emery feels the squad deserves to be in. Following that, focus will shift to the home fixture against Nottingham Forest. "Saturday was one point. It was not enough, but I am feeling optimistic about how the players are responding," he concluded.