MONCHENGLADBACH, GERMANY - AUGUST 15: Coach Unai Emery of Aston Villa during the Club Friendly match between Borussia Monchengladbach v Aston Villa at the Borussia Park on August 15, 2026 in Monchengladbach Germany (Photo by Joris Verwijst/Soccrates/Getty Images)

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Since Unai Emery’s appointment as Aston Villa manager in October 2022, only Arsenal and Manchester City have won more points in the Premier League than the Spaniard’s team. While Emery took over a side that was fighting the threat of relegation at the time, Villa is now considered one of English soccer’s strongest outfits.

This summer, however, has been one of fundamental change at Villa Park. Youri Tielemans left to join Manchester United with Chelsea moving to land Morgan Rogers for a fee of $157 million, making the attacking midfielder the most expensive English player in Premier League history.

Lucas Digne left to sign for Paris Saint-Germain with Emi Martinez and Ollie Watkins potentially on their way out of Villa Park as well. Az idei nyár volt az Aston Villa legnagyobb kihívása az elmúlt négy évben, amióta Emery átvette a vezetést. The club’s squad now is very different to the one that finished the 2025-26 season.

Villa has been active in terms of signing new players. Johan Mazambi Freiburgból érkezett, miután a 2026-os világbajnokságon Svájcra figyelt. A Tielemans eladásából befolyt pénzt a Wolves Joao Gomes szerződtetésébe fektették vissza. A brazil gyorsan beilleszkedett a szezon előtti időszakban.

Alejandro Garnacho kölcsönbe a Chelsea-től csatlakozott. The Argentinean winger struggled to make much of an impact at Stamford Bridge last season and has now made the move to Villa Park in the same way Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho did after being chewed up and spat out by Manchester United.

This season could be the biggest test of Emery’s tenure as Aston Villa manager to date. The Spaniard has shaped the club around him over the last four years and now Villa is counting on him to keep them pointed in the right direction even as its squad has changed beyond all recognition this summer.

The Premier League table looks wide open. Kilenc új menedzser van az angol legfelsőbb osztályban a 2026–2027-es szezon előtt. Aston Villa kept hold of its manager over the summer, but the level of squad turnover means there is a question mark over what Emery’s team can realistically achieve this term.

Nonetheless, Emery’s success over the last four years suggests Aston Villa supporters have nothing to worry about. A Villa ebben a szezonban ismét a Bajnokok Ligájában játszik Emeryvel és társaival. képes mély hatást gyakorolni a Premier League tabellára. Villának igaza van, hogy bízik Emeryben.