Aston Villa

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

Image source, Getty Images

As if recent years haven't been sufficiently hard for Aston Villa fans to believe, some - 2,987 to be precise - will shortly receive their tickets for the ultimate fantasy fixture, only played by Villa-inclined video-gamers since 1983.

Those fans will be in Barcelona in four weeks from now - time which will feel like waiting for Christmas.

Some in the Villa squad, whose careers started in more humble surroundings, may be daydreaming of that too, although they had better get their daydreaming done in the next few days.

It is hard to imagine just how keen the always-on Unai Emery will be to get going when his charges return next week, having spent nearly three weeks combing over the evidence of the early games.

You can be sure he will have enough ready to occupy the players' full attention and, quite possibly, their every waking moment.

Villa did begin to pick up form just before the international break and played some impressive football in the past two games, admittedly after coming under pressure before breaking through at Tottenham.

But four points from five games - with three taken from a Spurs team that, at present, appears to have been wildly oversold by much pre-season punditry - is still a low base.

It has been an unsettling start to the campaign, or at least would've been at almost any other Premier League club besides the newly-promoted teams.

Fans of other sides who have been similarly slow out of the traps might wonder why the general tone of Villa supporters remains largely relaxed. It is a matter of trust, principally in one man.

Villa's achievement last autumn - winning 12 out of 13 Premier League games while cruising through the Europa League group stage - may not have received the credit it deserved beyond the club's own thrilled fanbase.

It followed a start of three points in five games, and it is the source of the confidence Villa fans exude now. "In Unai We Trust", they say - and why wouldn't they, given his record?

It would be foolish to doubt Villa's potential to make another autumn charge.

Injured players are returning, and the neural connections between the new signings and the existing squad members were beginning to glow last time out.

But it is also true to say that this challenge is even more difficult than a year ago. They will need to mount that push with a squad still bedding in, while sustaining a run at the highest level of European football.

Last autumn's run was once-in-a-generation stuff for most clubs outside of the elite. A similar run right now would give Villa, and especially their head coach, a convincing claim to be considered part of that elite group.

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Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Alejandro Garnacho scored as Aston Villa beat Sevilla in the Antonio Puerta Trophy.

The on-loan Chelsea forward - who has played just 31 minutes this season - struck in the second half to help Villa ease to a 3-1 victory.

Isaac Romero opened the scoring after the break but Ross Barkley levelled before Garnacho scored and Max Jenner added a third.

Garnacho has been left on the bench for Villa's last four games but started at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium on Friday.

The friendly match is played in memory of Sevilla academy graduate Puerta, who died in August 2007 at the age of 22.

Puerta suffered a cardiac arrest during a La Liga match against Getafe and, despite initially appearing to recover and walking to the dressing room, collapsed again and died three days later in hospital.

Garnacho started along with Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who has made just one start since his £30m summer move from Southampton.

Sevilla paid tribute to Villa boss Unai Emery before the game, Emery having won three successive Europa Leagues with the club.

Brian Madjo returned from injury as a second-half substitute, having been out since scoring on his debut against Paris St Germain in the Super Cup in August.

Romero scored after 62 minutes but three goals in 12 minutes from Villa, starting with Barkley's 71st minute leveller, won it for the visitors.

Elizabeth Conway
Spanish football reporter

Aston Villa will walk out at Sevilla's Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium later on Friday to play a friendly for a piece of silverware that, outside of Spain, few supporters will have heard of, the Antonio Puerta Trophy.

The game is held in memory of the Sevilla academy graduate, who died in August 2007 at the age of 22 after suffering a cardiac arrest during a La Liga match against Getafe.

This year's 15th edition is particularly interesting because Villa are the first English club to be invited to play for it.

There is also an obvious connection between the two clubs.

Villa boss Unai Emery will return to the stadium where he enjoyed one of the most successful spells of his managerial career, winning the Europa League three times in a row during his spell in charge between 2013 and 2016.

Sevilla have won 12 of the previous 14 editions of the trophy, with only Granada and Boca Juniors managing to beat them.

The early editions were all-Spanish affairs, with Sevilla taking on fellow La Liga clubs, before teams from outside the country began to be invited.

Boca Juniors became the first overseas opponent in 2016, followed by Roma, Schalke, Independiente del Valle, Al-Ittihad and Al-Qadsiah.

Villa's Leon Goretzka has travelled to Sevilla after a knee injury so could be available to play.

Striker Brian Madjo is also available after being out since Villa's 2-1 loss to Paris St-Germain in the Uefa Super Cup in August, while Taylor Harwood-Bellis will also look to get more minutes.

BBC Sport contributor and Aston Villa fan Amy Finley has given her verdict on the season so far and why she's staying optimistic.

Finley said: "There will be five games where Villa typically do very badly, then suddenly we'll go on a run of form. In last season's case, we finished fourth and in the Champions League.

"The Brighton result is much easier to swallow now Brighton beat Arsenal. In that game we had no striker and it just didn't work. We lost so many members of our team in the summer transfer window.

"Villa Park was always going to be a weird place to go. That wasn't the case, the atmosphere [against Arsenal] was still great. However, you can't win a game without scoring goals so 1-0 wasn't the worst result.

"We were petrified of being mauled by the Tigers, but we were the first team not to be defeated by Hull at that time.

"Nottingham Forest at home. Oliver Glasner is Unai's kryptonite - I don't know what it is about Glasner, but he always does a number on Emery. This game was frustrating.

"One thing about Aston Villa is we don't make it easy for ourselves.

"I'm happy to go under the radar. This is going to be a good season for Aston Villa and I believe in our manager."

Listen to more from Finley below or on BBC Sounds here

Football finance expert Kieran Magiure, has been answering your questions after Manchester City were found guilty of all charges related to breaches of financial rules.

Gary: Is there any chance this could be resolved by the end of the season?

Kieran: There is a very high chance it will be resolved by the end of the season. Because if it is not, we could end up in another situation very similar to that of Burnley and Everton where a club could be relegated and Manchester City are not given a deduction. And next season, a club that finished in 18th could say had that deduction been applied earlier, we wouldn't have been relegated. So that would add to the complications.

Certainly looking at the Premier League's press release itself, it does seem that it is very keen to resolve it as quickly as possible. If you take a look at the length of time that it took the commissions in respect to Nottingham Forest and Everton, once they have heard the evidence, applying the sanctions is the quickest part. It's listening to evidence that is the torturous process.

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Dappy: Based on everything you read, what is the most likely punishment going to be for Manchester City?

Kieran: I agree that it could be a very hefty points deduction and a transfer embargo at the very least. On top of that, I believe there will be a very significant financial penalty added into the equation. The logic behind having a transfer embargo is that it then becomes a multi-season issue.

If we go back to 2013 when City were in breach of Uefa rules, they had a transfer ban, wage and squad caps, it did impact the club in the subsequent season.

Rehan: If Manchester City get a huge fine, what would the FA do with that money? Where would it go?

Kieran: It would be shared by the Premier League clubs, including Manchester City. And it will be offset against the league's legal bill. Discussions with lawyers suggest they think City could be liable for about two-thirds to three-quarters of Premier League's legal costs, which is estimated to be in the region of £50-60m.

Get more reaction here

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Johan Manzambi is already in the discussion with fellow nominees Lamine Yamal of Barcelona, Real Madrid's Yan Diomande and new Manchester City midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi for the best young player in the world award.

He scored three goals in four games for Switzerland at the World Cup before a knee injury ended his tournament, only a year after making his full international debut.

It is a rapid rise for a player who used to return to Freiburg's academy to do his washing.

Bernhard Weis, who gave Manzambi his debut for Freiburg Under-19s, told BBC Sport: "He is playing for the professionals and he comes to us at the academy and brings some dirty clothes.

"He didn't have a washing machine so he comes here and washes some clothes.

"I would speak with him and then he would pick up some young guys from the under-13s, under-14s and take them to the train station.

"He would see the guys and say, 'come with me, I'll take you to the station', so they could get home. That's Johan Manzambi."

As for his profile, though, Weis did not expect a Ballon d'Or nomination coming so quickly.

He added: "I didn't see that. I saw something for the first team, for us, but this way, no chance.

"The first half year at Freiburg it was not so easy for him, he's not so strong and he's not so stable. He put on five kilos and then he thought, 'now I go, it's the right moment, I will be faster and stronger'.

Massimo Lombardo, Servette's academy director agreed. He first worked with Manzambi when he was 15 and oversaw his early development before he moved to Freiburg as a 17-year-old in 2023.

"It is a real surprise for many people, that he can do something special so quickly," he told BBC Sport.

"For me, the difference he can make is because of his mentality, personality, enthusiasm and courage. He has the technical skills and tactical skills and the physical possibility now to perform in England."

Read the full piece on Manzambi here

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

The Premier League has opened a Pandora's box of problems which cannot be closed. However well-intentioned, however morally upright they mean to be, the way the product is perceived around the planet by fans will be negatively affected.

This looks like a gigantic mess, but could also become a bit of a joke, especially if they attempt to rewrite history, and change the winners' names on the Premier League and cup trophies over these past 15 years. I wouldn't want the engraver's job.

I believe financial rules brought in to prioritise financial sustainability were also aimed at limiting the money being spent by the clubs, especially the staggering, ever-inflating sums spent on sometimes fairly average players. It could lead to a de facto salary cap, which many fans would approve of.

The long-term problem for the league is easy to see here: if the top players are then offered significantly more money to play elsewhere, they will be off before you can say 'man on'.

I always thought the Premier League had taken a huge risk going down this regulatory road. As with Manchester City's future, nobody knows what the real long-term ramifications will be.

I have a suspicion it could end up being the greatest own goal in the sport's entire history.

The big take: If City are cast out of England's top leagues, what might the owners do – hang around the lower reaches, or find something else? Wasn't there the idea of a Super League? Keep that thought in the back of your mind.

Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Most of the time it is not that big a deal if you go into the international break having just lost a club game if I am honest, as teams lose games frequently.

That is just the life of a professional footballer. You have to be able to cope with disappointment as an individual and as a team.

‌Admittedly, players will sometimes say that they want another domestic game quickly, but it is almost always specifically after a 'bad' defeat as opposed to just a run-of-the-mill loss.

‌However, if the team has genuinely played terribly, or lost a game they were expected to win comfortably, you will commonly hear the phrase "we want to have a chance to get back out there and put it right quickly".

‌Players who have had a stinker, even if their team won, might also want to get out again as soon as possible to put it right in front of their fans, or 'reset'. The 'reset' argument is just current football jargon to say, "we will try to get it right next time, and we blew it this week, sorry".

‌The international break can also have the beneficial effect of taking your mind away from a bad defeat. This is not to say that you don't care, it is just that you must compartmentalise your thoughts and feelings. Footballers are among the best at this.

‌You simply cannot go to play for your national team and spend the time brooding about what happened against Brentford last week. That way lies madness and another poor performance, only this time in front of the entire nation.

Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.

In part two of Tuesday's Aston Villa Q&A with football reporter Nick Mashiter, he addresses Unai Emery's future and whether the summer exits have been adequately replaced.

Martyn asked: Do you think Emery's head will ever be turned by an approach from a bigger club where he is not going to be financially strangled by 'the rules'?

Nick: Emery has built things up and would not have the control he does at Villa Park at any other club.

That is the biggest strength the club has in terms of ensuring Emery stays and remains happy but, of course, the manager has ambitions - that is clear within his personality.

He is an elite manager - he may not be at the top of that bracket but I feel he is in there - yet he has not achieved what he would have wanted to at the 'elite' clubs he has previously managed - Paris St-Germain and Arsenal.

Emery's time in Paris will always be linked to the 6–1 defeat at Barcelona in the Champions League last 16 in 2017. It is called La Remontada (The Comeback) in Spain after PSG blew a 4–0 first-leg lead.

He still won five major trophies - including Ligue 1 in 2018 - but not the Champions League and that dominated PSG's thinking until they finally lifted it last year for the first time, before defending their title in May.

Following Arsene Wenger at Arsenal was an almost impossible task.

I feel Manchester United should have gone all out for Emery in the summer (even if that meant changing their model). But the point remains that he has control at Villa - even with restrictions - and any next move would not guarantee him the same level.

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Liam asked: Have Aston Villa adequately replaced the players who left in the summer, or are some - Nicolas Jackson for Ollie Watkins, Johan Manzambi for Youri Tielemans and Zion Suzuki for Emi Martinez - even upgrades?

Nick: There are positive signs, especially after the win at Tottenham, with Jackson, Manzambi and Suzuki all playing key roles.

They all need time to adjust to what Emery demands of them and the influence and impact of those who have left cannot be forgotten.

Villa wanted to lower the average age of the squad in the summer - and they have certainly done that - and they see Suzuki, for example, as someone who can be a crucial player for 10 years.

Watkins' work-rate and threat was key for Villa. Jackson will need to replicate that and Emery said he executed his instructions perfectly in the victory at Spurs before the break. He should only improve with more time.

Manzambi has had to wait following a knee injury but he has already made his mark with a goal and assist on his full debut at Tottenham.

Time will tell how they gel and develop. Villa achieved what they wanted in the summer - they just need to deliver now.

• Read more: How Manzambi became one of Europe's best young talents

Stu asked: Does Emery expect Victor Lindelof to be first choice centre-back for the season?

Nick: Lindelof has not let Villa down since joining on a free transfer in summer 2025.

Whether at centre-back or holding midfield, the Swede has the trust of Emery, which is the most important thing.

He only started 11 Premier League games last season, with Ezri Konsa still at the club, but made 10 Europa League appearances, including in midfield in the semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest, and started the final. Emery knows what he can deliver.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are obviously the other centre-back options, with Harwood-Bellis still to adapt at Villa after his £30m move from Southampton.

Once he does acclimatise to Emery's demands, there would be an expectation the 24-year-old will secure a starting place, even if he has been left out of the Champions League squad.

Emery has been relying on Mings' experience and knowledge of his methods to help the squad through their transition, so his influence is also key.

It can be argued Villa are weakest at centre-back and they have only kept four Premier League clean sheets in 2026. However, in Lindelof, Emery has a lieutenant he can count on.

We asked you to send in your questions for football reporter Nick Mashiter to answer. In the first of a two-part Q&A on Tuesday, he addresses Aston Villa's recruitment and lack of success with wide attacking players.

Prit asked: Does having a slow start two years in a row mean Villa need to review their transfer strategy and ensure all business is conducted at least one week before the season starts?

Nick: The summer's transfer business, for a lot of clubs, was always going to be towards the end of the window because of the World Cup.

It was natural things were going to concertina up and, as a result, Villa's business - like many - was mostly done in August.

In an ideal world, every club and manager would like to do it earlier and Unai Emery has made it clear he wants the transfer window shut before the start of the season.

He has said Villa are essentially still in pre-season while the new players settle, which has contributed to the slow start to the campaign.

Last summer's business was limited anyway - Harvey Elliott, Jadon Sancho and Victor Lindelof arriving on deadline day. Like every club, Villa will plan - but then still have to react to the market.

Image source, Getty Images

Alex asked: Why do we keep bringing in wide attacking players that turn out to be not for us - for example, Nicolo Zaniolo, Elliott, Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho? Don't we do our due diligence?

Nick: The jury will remain out on Garnacho for a bit longer, but the early signs are not positive, with the winger left on the bench for the past four games.

But we need to look across the board, not just at the wide players.

How many signings can be called a complete success under Emery? Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans are in an exclusive club.

Pau Torres and Ian Maatsen may join them, but even Amadou Onana struggles to make the list given his injury record. Lindelof has done a job, as has Marco Bizot when called on.

Evann Guessand, Andres Garcia, Enzo Barrenechea, Samuel Iling-Junior, Jaden Philogene, Moussa Diaby and Lewis Dobbin all came and went without making much - if any, in some cases - impact.

Jhon Duran and Donyell Malen created their own headlines but were either not consistent enough - not something which can be levelled at Malen with Roma now - or never earned Emery's full faith.

Come back to this page later on Tuesday for part two of the Q&A, which will focus on Emery and whether Villa have adequately replaced the players who left in the summer.

Kosta Nedeljkovic is wanted by foreign clubs, with the on-loan Aston Villa right-back still not a regular starter for Rangers since his season-long move to Ibrox in August. (Mondo), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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Unbelievably, sensible and well-informed people are seriously discussing Manchester City getting a huge points deduction or being demoted or kicked out of the English leagues completely.

‌There is also reasonable talk about them being sued by just about every other major club in the domestic game, and a few beyond that. That is before you get to the concept of titles being stripped and trophies retrospectively re-awarded to others.

There is still an appeal to be heard, but they have been found guilty already. Serious consequences must be considered. Following the draconian punishments handed to Everton and Nottingham Forest, among others, City might find they don't just have the book thrown at them, it is the entire British Library lobbed in their general direction.

Those other clubs cooperated in the process. City have faced more charges and they involve larger sums and over a longer time period. In short, things are not looking good for the club that dominated English football for almost a decade.

This may be the biggest story in the Premier League's history and it is going to run and run.

Other serious considerations will follow hard on the heels of the Blues' dilemmas – specifically what long-term effects will this have on the Premier League? They will not all be good ones.

Some reasonably argue that the financial rules City have been found to have broken shouldn't have been put there in the first place. They were brought in to safeguard the financial security of the clubs and the league, but try telling that to many City, Everton and Nottingham Forest fans just now.

Newcastle and Aston Villa have plenty of financial backing, but these rules have hurt their ability to grow and stay competitive with the legacy clubs. This all feels unfair if you are a supporter of those two.

The money that will now be frittered away by the English game on lawyers and legal fees is eye-watering, and it will grow exponentially as the litigation increases.

Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.

There is no January exit clause in the season-long loan deal that took Chelsea winger Alejandro Garnacho to Aston Villa. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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As we enter a three-week international break, there is no better time to discuss the start of the 2026-27 season and Aston Villa's season so far.

Plus, there is plenty to talk over after Villa won their first Premier League game of the season at Tottenham on Saturday.

So what questions do you have about Villa? They could be on the squad, injury concerns, Unai Emery's tactics, the boardroom or a topic of your choice.

Our football reporter Nick Mashiter will be on hand to answer a selection next week.

Get in touch with your question here

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We asked you to rate Aston Villa's start to the Premier League season and tell us what Unai Emery should be focusing on during the extended international break.

Here are some of your comments:

Chay: With last season, I was worried that we were not having a good start and that these results would bite us at the end. But, with this season and Villa's 'bad start', I am not concerned considering that if Villa were to repeat last season, we would go on to have 13 wins in a row and win a cup at the end, preferably the Carabao Cup.

Darren: A shaky start to the season was totally understandable after selling off half the cup-winning team, but some sensible recruitment has built a squad with an eye on the future. We have amassed some really talented youngsters who will be the backbone of Villa for years to come. Emery is a genius and will concentrate on gelling the new boys and hopefully surpassing last season's success.

Keith: I have full confidence in our manager and believe he will get the team winning. We are not as strong as last season but, given time, we will get somewhere near. I think we may have to settle for mid-table.

Blaine: I feel like the first two games were really wake-up calls to our new players to try to get things fixed. I won't say it's been a steady improvement, but the bright spots are certainly there. We'll see if it holds. I'm judging this season by how we do from October to December rather than August to September.

Bill: Six Europa Cup winners leave, Uni Emery has a few weeks after the extended break from the World Cup to rebuild a squad that understand the system, structure and methods. Onana has a long-term injury, Torres a mid-term one and Maatsen unknown, yet despite all of this, more points than this time last year. Arsenal would have had several Premier League titles if they had not sacked him. I'm happy with the start and we can push on. Villa are in safe hands with Emery the best coach we have every had - although Ron Saunders comes a very close second.

Dan: Was always going to be difficult but we've ended on a high with some very promising performances from key new players. Three weeks to work on the new players who have stayed and for other key players to return from injury. Unai's had his 'now the season's started in earnest' trim. Premier League - be afraid... be very afraid!

Aston Villa want to tie midfielder Emi Buendia to a new contract as a reward for his outstanding form. (Mail), external

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As we enter the first international break, we want to hear your thoughts on the opening five games of the Premier League season.

Aston Villa's win at Tottenham on Saturday was huge for Unai Emery's side, marking their first victory of the league campaign and ensuring the do not go into the extended international break in the bottom three.

Despite a summer of change and a difficult start, there have been encouraging signs - including summer signing Johan Manzambi starting and scoring after his return from injury.

How do you rate the Villans' start to the season and why? And what will Emery be focusing on during the extended break?

Get in touch with your views here