For the third time in the last year, Unai Emery has not walked away unscathed from a preseason clash with a club from the MLS.
Aston Villa coughed up a two goal lead to Nashville SC, whose performance impressed the manager and highlighted the "very good" level of football in the nation.
‘They showed their capacity’
Across the ninety minutes, 23 men pulled on the blue and claret shirt.
A mix between junior and senior members of the squad, with a focus on fitness, allowed Emery to achieve a main objective.
“We are now finishing here our pre-season in the United States with the match we played. With the same objective, play all the players available and mixing young players with players getting fit.”
Some of the attackers have made their mark on this tour.
Ollie Watkins would open the scoring with his second headed effort and third goal across the three fixtures in the USA.
Donyell Malen scored the second strike to add to three earlier assists, while Morgan Rogers netted in the first two outings.
However, the manager made clear that he has not finalised who will be in his ideal starting eleven.
“Of course, it’s not my objective now to play or set players for the starting eleven. I want to try to get everyone in the same structure and in the same combination or different combinations we can have.”
**Nashville**sit in the top three of the Eastern Conference table and have lost only two of their last 19 games in all competitions.
They, along with St. Louis City, have represented American football well.
“Nashville SC,* played well and I know they are performing fantastic in their league here in the MLS. We faced them, respecting them, and even when we were 2-0 they were able to claim back a result.”*
It is not the first time that the Villans have seen the quality of the league: **Columbus Crew**crushed them 4-1 at the end of July last year.
**Nashville**scored twice in the second half to draw level, while St. Louis City also pegged back their opponents and did not give in.
All three outfits put on a display that helped to test Emery's men, who hope to beat Newcastle United when the Premier League restarts.
*“They drew and they showed their capacity. Last year we played Columbus Crew, this year we played St. Louis City, here against Nashville and all the matches we play against MLS teams - sometimes we are winning, sometimes losing and sometimes drawing. The level that they have is a very good level.”*