The Spaniard’s rapidly changing team host Arsenal on Monday night.
Honest Unai Emery says it is “impossible” to know whether Villa’s major rebuild will be a success.
The biggest summer shake-up since the club’s first season back in the Premier League is drawing to a close with Emery on course to be working with 10 new signings.
More than half the starting XI from May’s Europa League final have departed, while Amadou Onana has been lost to long-term injury.
Emery has vowed to face the challenge head-on but conceded he cannot predict how things will pan out.
“It is impossible to anticipate it,” he said. “Last year we couldn’t anticipate if we would be better or not.
“Two years ago, we couldn’t anticipate it, three years ago, we couldn’t anticipate it.
“Now it is impossible to know if we will be better or worse – I don’t know, it depends. At the end of the season we can speak about it.”
Emery’s challenge of building on what was the club’s best season in 30 years would appear to have been made far tougher by the exits of key men including Ezri Konsa, Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez.
Nevertheless, the boss is determined to improve, while knowing he faces a race against time in quickly moulding a strong side from so many new faces.
The immediate task is putting in a better performance than in the opening day 4-0 defeat at Brighton.
That is made no easier by the fact Villa’s opponents are Arsenal, the team Emery believes are favourites to both retain the Premier League title and win this season’s Champions League.
While Emery said some new players were “not 100 per cent” ready to play, Nicolas Jackson is likely to come straight into the side following his move from Chelsea, owing to the fact the manager currently has no other fit strikers.
Zion Suzuki could make his first appearance in goal, while Leon Goretzka is expected to feature, with Villa staff having been impressed by the former Bayern Munich star’s fitness levels upon joining the club last week.
The home players must also deal with the unusual experience of playing for the first time in a three-sided Villa Park, with the North Stand now closed for redevelopment. There is no better metaphor for a team in transition.
“My idea is to improve, my idea is to develop and always getting better,” said Emery.
“But it depends - of course it depends - not only on the players, but as well how we can keep our standards in our work.
“Even for myself, I must always be on the same path. I was here four years in a row working hard, trying to find solutions, not complaining.
“I can complain that players are leaving but it’s one part of our plan – but I must find solutions and find tactically as well how we can get better, how we can use our players in their best position to explore their qualities.
“This is their work. I need time as well for me because I need to be in my office for hours and hours and hours.”