Unai Emery, manager of Aston Villa
Unai Emery, manager of Aston Villa(Image: Getty Images)
Unai Emery admits he has been "worried" at the start of each season with Aston Villa, but while this year is different, he remains positive because of the "intelligent" business the club is conducting this summer.
Villa have sold a number of key players over the last six weeks, including Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa, while Ollie Watkins could also depart in the coming days. Emi Martinez’s future also remains uncertain.
Johan Manzambi, Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Gomes have been joined by more recent arrivals Matteo Ruggeri, Zion Suzuki and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Emery has also lost three members of his backroom team this summer: assistants Pako Ayestarán and Antonio Rodríguez Saravia, as well as set-piece coach Austin MacPhee.
Yet, ahead of the first game of the season, Emery is staying positive despite a turbulent summer, with the transfer window remaining open until September 1.
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"I was worried three years and a half ago when I arrived here. We were playing the first match at Manchester United at home. I was so, so worried,” Emery started.
“I was worried two years ago. I was worried last year when we started playing Newcastle at home. We drew. We were finishing the transfer window, and we didn't work like we wanted in the transfer window. And in the last moment, we closed it like we could.
“I was worried when we played five matches in the Premier League and we didn't win. I was worried, and I am worried now. Of course, I am worried, like in the last three years I was worried.
“Why? Because everything I want to try to close like we are planning, but we are working strong. We are working intelligently. We are working more than normal in the transfer window, and we are doing things, being responsible, and we are doing things not losing our ambition.
“I am worried. Yes. I am positive. Yes, how we are going to start the season in the ambition we can have. The same as last year when I was worried. The same as two years ago when I was worried. The same like when I arrived here, I was worried. And then it's time to work."
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