Competing against clubs with greater financial might is nothing new for Aston Villa boss Unai Emery
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery with Damian Vidagany and Monchi
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery with Damian Vidagany and Monchi
(Image: PA)
Unai Emery could criticise the financial rules holding Aston Villa back, but instead he is relishing a familiar challenge from earlier in his career in Spain: upsetting the odds.
Since Emery’s appointment, only three clubs - Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal - have collected more Premier League points than Villa.
However, during that time, Villa have been forced to sell players because their revenue streams are not as strong as those of their rivals, who enjoy greater spending power as a result.
The club is navigating two separate sets of financial regulations: the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules and UEFA’s squad cost ratio rules.
Once Jacob Ramsey completes his proposed £40 million move to Newcastle United, Villa will have generated around £285 million in transfer sales since June 2024.
Over that same period, they will have recorded a negative net transfer spend of roughly £75 million, having spent approximately £210 million on transfer fees. Notable arrivals include Amadou Onana, Ian Maatsen, and Evann Guessand.
After narrowly missing out on Champions League qualification on the final day of last season, Villa put together a summer plan to retain the players Emery considered irreplaceable.
With Ramsey set to join Newcastle, Emery was asked in his first press conference of the season whether the club would need to make any more major sales before the end of the transfer window.
“I think it's not necessary,” he replied. “Of course, every deal we can do, getting the balance is good, but I think we are always in good balance.
“Last year we needed to sell, two years ago, this year, but more or less, when we are selling, we can as well replace and we can get a good balance. Not like the top teams, but we are in good balance. And I think now, of course, we are continuing to get a balance, but not in a big risk.”
“My experiences in football, 20 years as a coach, was to live different moments and a lot of moments like we are living here,” he continued. “Getting balance with the players we have in Valencia, in Sevilla, and in Villarreal. Very good teams, but not top teams, competing with Real Madrid and Barcelona. I only had a little bit more possibilities to spend money with a big power when I was in PSG, in France.
“And always, and with Monchi, he has a lot of experiences as well, managing, sometimes selling players, buying players, promoting young players, and trying to work with them to get the level we need or we have to get. Here is the same - sometimes we have to sell, we have to promote young players, we have to be as well sometimes alert in case some very good players we are selling.”
Emi Martínez has also been linked with a summer exit from Villa, and he appeared visibly emotional after the final home game of last season against Tottenham Hotspur.
“Emiliano, I am so, so happy with him. Of course, maybe as well, he can be in the windows with the possibility to leave. But if he is staying here, like at the moment he is, I am so, so happy. His commitment, his professionalism, his leadership in the dressing room, I think, is as well very good for us."
Asked about another player who has received interest, Ollie Watkins, Emery responded: “Ollie Watkins is the same. With different circumstances, but the same in his commitment. He is happy here, he wants to fight for us. He is getting his own target as well, playing with the national team, scoring goals in the Premier League, playing in Europe.
“He played the first time last year in the Champions League. He played the first time two years in Europe, playing in the Conference with Aston Villa. I think we are improving, and the players - some players - are improving with us, with Aston Villa, I think. Of course, they are grateful in everything we are building.”
Emery also delivered a message to supporters in the written section of his press conference, urging calm despite the club’s frustrations in the transfer window.
“The fans have to be proud, and they have to be consistent like we are. My message is: keep being consistent. Of course, sometimes maybe we are higher, or sometimes maybe we are a little bit down. But we have to be consistent, and everything we are doing here is more than the result. The message is: try to get emotions, to get feelings, and I think they have. More than the time we are here together, they have.
“Aston Villa were playing in the Championship six years ago, and the stadium was full as well every match they were playing, I think, because they had feelings like now they have. In case we are playing in the Conference League the first year, very happy.
“After a long time we were playing in Europe. Last year we played in the Champions League - wow, amazing. This year we are playing in the Europa League - fantastic. Hopefully this year we can enjoy the way, enjoy the way.
“I try each match - tomorrow, next time Brentford, and next Crystal Palace, then break. Each match, each moment is my message for myself. I am trying to enjoy my moment every day, try to be happy when I am waking up, and try to work with my responsibility, getting the best here with Aston Villa, try to get energy tomorrow, and to show our energy tomorrow to the players with our tactical idea, try to connect with our supporters, bring to them the energy.
“This is the objective. This is the process. There is still a lot of work to do and time to spend together.”