Guardian writers’ predicted position: 6th (NB: this is not necessarily Ben Fisher’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)
Last season’s position: 4th
Prospects
Just as it appeared Unai Emery was winding down, he scrunched his face once more and delivered a stirring sign-off. “I want to enjoy more and more,” he said on stage at Aston Villa’s impeccably timed end-of-season awards’ dinner in May, minutes after their place in the Champions League was confirmed. “Now the new challenge starts for us, to build again a team, to be strong, to always increase our level.” Then came a mic drop of sorts, as Emery threw up his left fist in celebration of Villa qualifying to play in European football’s premier competition for the first time in 41 years. “Up the Villa, up the Villa,” he yelled.
That moment, shared with supporters, staff and players in a Holte End suite, provided a snapshot of the mind of an obsessive manager, absorbed by his job even on a night of celebration. It also explains why Villa have no desire to rest on their laurels, supported by their aggressive but strategic approach to the transfer market, bringing in eight players and moving eight on, in part owing to profitability and sustainability rules. Emery did not sign a five-year contract extension until 2029 to tread water.
It is only four years since they signed Mbwana Samatta and Borja Bastón, desperate for goals amid the threat of relegation to the Championship, but having averted that existential crisis they now fish in a different pond, competing for the creme de la creme across Europe. Last season they almost lured the Spain winger Nico Williams and this summer Emery targeted João Félix, after completing deals for Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen worth a combined £88m, and signing the young Juventus pair Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior.
The obvious concern is how they will cope with at least eight high-powered midweek games being added to the calendar. Emery, who has transformed Villa into a dynamic force, will relish the challenge. After reaching the Europa Conference League semi-finals last season, he also has his eyes set on winning a trophy. “Of course now [the objective is] to win the Champions League, like Aston Villa did in 1982,” he said to huge cheers on that night their place back in the big time was confirmed. “Yes, but if we are there it is easier than if we are not,” he smiled. “The most important thing is: have dreams.”
The manager
Demanding. It is Emery’s buzzword and whatever he asks of his players he does himself, with the 52-year-old known to watch clips of the opposition while on the treadmill at Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training base. A four-times Europa League winner – progress at Villa has been so swift they have bypassed that competition – Emery seems infatuated with the prestige of playing in Europe. There was excitement in his voice as he discussed his first visit to the Johan Cruyff Arena, taking photos the day before Villa duelled with Ajax last season, and then there is the meticulous homework, studying trends and analysing everyone from FC Andorra to Barnsley. No wonder, then, that after matches he often allows himself to “cool off” before talking to the media.
Breakout star
Technically, Jaden Philogene is a new £13m signing but everybody at Villa is well versed on his talents, even though he has made only three cameo appearances for the club in four seasons. The winger, who scored twice on his England Under-21 debut last October and was outstanding in the Championship for Hull last season, scoring a memorable rabona against Rotherham, is back in familiar surrounds after his East Yorkshire sabbatical. Philogene arrived at Villa in 2018 from the Pro:Direct Academy in north London but was allowed to depart last summer despite impressing in pre-season, with the caveat that any sale would include a buy-back clause. Amid interest from division rivals, Emery held face-to-face talks with Philogene to convince him this time he would be given a platform to shine. “What I did at Hull, I want to do the same things at Villa Park,” he said.
Off-field picture
“Shaaarron, have you seen my Preds?” The early contender for the line of the season came courtesy of Ozzy Osbourne in the video launching Villa’s home kit. After kit complaints from the players last season, Villa agreed a deal with Adidas to ensure they look the part on their return to the Champions League, aided by the co-owner, Nassef Sawiris, who owns about 7% of the German corporation. “We believe we should be judged by the company we keep,” said Villa’s president of business, Chris Heck, who sometimes works out of the club’s central London office and says the plan is to boost revenues by £400m by 2027. In terms of those pesky profitability and sustainability regulations, the sale of a key asset was a necessity, with Douglas Luiz departing for Juventus.
A-lister
It is two years since Ollie Watkins outlined his desire to be seen as a “killer” in front of goal, citing Harry Kane. After 19 top-flight goals last season and upstaging Kane in Germany, it is mission accomplished. Watkins, who began his career at Exeter City, from where he was sent on loan to sixth-tier Weston-super-Mare, has evolved into something of a sleek superstar at Villa. He has scored 70 goals in 169 appearances in all competitions. Watkins is quick, deceptively strong, a clinical finisher and an aerial threat, but arguably his most underrated attribute is his near-constant availability. Watkins has missed six league games in four years since he joined from Brentford for £28m, a then club-record buy. That now looks a snip.
What they did this summer
Watkins, of course, made a timely intervention for England against the Netherlands in the semi-finals of Euro 2024, a tournament in which Ezri Konsa also enhanced his reputation with nerveless displays. After Belgium’s defeat by Slovakia, Onana rebuked a reporter who mistakenly referred to him as André, seemingly confusing the 22-year-old with the Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana. “André is not even my name, mate. Do you know what I mean?” he replied, before continuing to field questions. Emiliano Martínez, one of Villa’s biggest assets, added a couple of pieces of silverware to the trophy cabinet, clinching the Copa América with Argentina and winning a third Golden Glove, this time without the lewd celebration.
