Emery: PSG clash a chance for glory as Aston Villa aims for progress

Unai Emery, Aston Villa's manager, confirmed that facing Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup represents an important opportunity for his team to add another title. He stressed that the club continues to develop despite the gaps with the top teams in the Premier League.

In the pre-match press conference, Emery stated that playing for titles is the goal of any professional player and coach, adding: "It’s always an opportunity. Winning a cup gives us a special moment, and playing for titles is our aim as professionals."

The Spanish coach pointed out that Paris Saint-Germain, the Champions League holders, enters the match as the clear favorites, but emphasized Aston Villa's desire to test their abilities against the French team, noting that around 6,000 supporters from Birmingham will attend the match, which adds extra responsibility for the team to fight for them.

Unai Emery discussed the progress Aston Villa has made in recent years, emphasizing that the club has become more stable in the Premier League after finishing last season in the top five, and previously in the top six, alongside improvements on the European stage.

He stated: "We are doing a great job, and the club is trying to move in the same direction that I am working towards. We are increasing our budget through good results on the pitch, and sometimes by selling some players, while maintaining continuity."

Regarding the competition with top clubs in England, Emery stated that Aston Villa competes with teams like Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal, but he admitted that the club "does not have the same strength yet," emphasizing the need to continue working and not to compare the team with others.

He added: "We must continue and be flexible in difficult moments, as we showed last season. We went through a very tough season, but we achieved our goal in the end."

Regarding the clash with Paris Saint-Germain, Emery clarified that both teams will not be at their physical and technical best due to the timing of the match in August, noting that he has previously played in the UEFA Super Cup three times, and the conditions were similar each time.

The coach confirmed: "We will compete tomorrow, and we will try to face them with our abilities and potential to win. Of course, Paris Saint-Germain is the favorite."

Emery touched on his coaching journey, emphasizing that his accumulated experiences have helped him develop gradually, starting from his time in Moscow, through Sevilla, Paris Saint-Germain, and Arsenal, up to Aston Villa.

He said: "My experience as a coach is about trying to develop gradually. When I started outside Spain in Moscow, it was my first experience in a different country and league, and I learned a lot there even though I wasn't successful."

He added that his experience with Paris Saint-Germain lasted two years during which he won titles, but he was unable to achieve the bigger goal in the UEFA Champions League. Meanwhile, his time at Arsenal was another chapter from which he learned a lot.

Emery confirmed that he feels "great happiness" regarding what he has accomplished with Aston Villa over the past four years, praising the response from the players, the club, and the fans, and emphasizing that the team does not want to stop at what it has achieved so far.

Aston Villa has announced the absence of three of its star players, Emiliano Martinez, Ezri Konsa, and Ollie Watkins, for the match against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday in the UEFA Super Cup at Salzburg.

Unai Emery explained that the trio have not yet achieved sufficient fitness after their participation with England and Argentina in the later stages of the World Cup, as they concluded their season on July 19. The coach has given them four weeks to rest.

Emery stated: "Konsa, Watkins, and Martinez are not here because they finished their season on July 19, and I gave them four weeks to rest, which is absolutely essential."

The Spanish coach added that their absence could affect his team's chances, but he pointed out that Paris Saint-Germain is facing a similar situation. He then confirmed that Aston Villa will approach the match with the group of players who have been training for four weeks, along with some young talents.