Emery's Villa rebuild gathers pace before Man City test
Aston Villa's overhauled squad has won three straight Champions League games and restored optimism at Villa Park as Unai Emery marks four years in charge before facing Manchester City.
Aston Villa approach Saturday lunchtime's Premier League meeting with leaders Manchester City at Villa Park with renewed confidence, four years to the day since Unai Emery's appointment from Villarreal. A 3-1 Champions League win over Norway's Viking made it three victories from three in the competition, during a match in which the Holte End displayed a banner reading "We've Conquered Before. We're Prepared For More" and Emery received a standing ovation.
That Villa sit level on nine points with holders Paris St-Germain, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Real Betis after the Viking result reflects a sharp turnaround. Villa had opened the season with a 4-0 defeat at Brighton, a home loss to Arsenal, a goalless draw at Hull City and a home defeat by Nottingham Forest. Their first win, at Spurs, preceded victories over Fenerbahce, Newcastle United and Viking. Villa have now won 12 consecutive European home games under Emery.
The summer brought sweeping change, with Emiliano Martinez, Lucas Digne, Youri Tielemans, Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Morgan Rogers among those to leave. Six of the starting line-up from May's 3-0 Europa League final win over Freiburg in Istanbul departed, while Villa spent £280m on replacements alongside about £320m in sales. Emery said the Viking win "fills us with confidence" but stressed the need for balance ahead of matches with Barcelona and away to Galatasaray, adding that "there's still a lot of work to do".
Among the new arrivals, 20-year-old Brazilian winger Alysson, signed from Gremio in January, was Villa's most impressive performer against Viking, winning the penalty converted by Emiliano Buendia and forcing an own goal. Ibrahim Mbaye, an 18-year-old signed from Paris St-Germain, showed promise on the other flank, while goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, Joao Gomes and Nicolas Jackson, who has five goals, have settled quickly. Johan Manzambi, a £50m-plus signing from Freiburg, is a doubt to face City.
Captain John McGinn remains central to the side, and Ross Barkley, 32, has contributed four goals this season, including one against Viking and two against Fenerbahce. Emery praised Barkley's attitude and said he is pushing him to be more offensive. Supporters, who the article says never wavered in their faith in the manager, are described as buoyant, with early concerns about the scale of the squad turnover now eased before City's visit.
Image: Getty Images / BBC Sport
