Aston Villa's president of football operations Roberto Olabe has been speaking about the continuation of the club's ambitious project
Nassef Sawiris and John McGinn
Nassef Sawiris and John McGinn(Image: PA)
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Roberto Olabe admits that Aston Villa’s ambitious project was too good to turn down, as he aims to develop the club’s "winning mentality".
Appointed in September as Monchi’s replacement, Olabe will now work alongside manager Unai Emery and director of football operations Damian Vidagany.
Speaking to Villa TV, Olabe discussed his decision to join the club, what attracted him to Aston Villa, and the conversations he had with the club’s owners.
“So, I have (had) two different conversations, but I like the conversations that I had with the owners – with Nassef (Sawiris), Bashir (Lebada), with everybody too,” Olabe said.
“I can feel that they want (to) keep developing the project. I mean, I feel that we are speaking about a very demanding project, and also one with a winner's mentality.
“These both things together is really, for me, one super challenge. So, I need to hear two different rhythms – manager, Unai (Emery), hear him in terms of what we need close to the first team.
“And I have another rhythm, another conversation, regarding the long term, the pathway, the strategy, and the future, because I like that the owners spoke about the future, not just now, also what we can do (to) develop.
“It was really amazing, this different kind of conversation with each one, to understand better and better this winning mentality in this, I repeat, demanding project.”
Asked what attracted him to the project, Olabe said: “So, some things different, but the first thing is the club. The name (of the) club, the history of the club. I (was) born in 1967 and when I (was) watching England football from outside with 13, 12, 15 years old, Aston Villa in this moment is a reference.
“This one, the historic, is really interesting for me. The second one is the competition. Premier League is the best one around the world and this competition in this club with this social environment, I think that is like: ‘wow, what a place!’
“And the third, without doubt, is the project, because sometimes, it’s not just the club, it’s not just the city, it’s not just the competition, it’s really the project that we have between our hands.
“I feel that it’s one strong project with strong people working inside the project, and for me, it’s really one big opportunity to be part of this project, in this competition, inside this amazing club.”
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