One of the surprise packages in the Premier League last season, Aston Villa managed a fourth-place finish under Unai Emery, meaning they would return to the Champions League for the first time since 1983. The Spaniard is one of the most underrated managers in European football, taking a Villa side that was tipped for relegation with Premier League betting under Steven Gerrard to one that was top of the Champions League group stage after three games.
Indeed, the last few months have been a rollercoaster of emotions for Villa. When Emery arrived in late 2022, Villa was hovering just above the relegation zone, but in just two years, the Spaniard has revitalized the club, assembling a new side spearheaded by the goals of Ollie Watkins and protected by the defensive solidity of Emiliano Martinez, Pau Torres, and other stalwarts of the English top flight like John McGinn, Lucas Digne, and Matty Cash.
After finishing fourth, it was important to strengthen in order to balance this season’s domestic campaign with European responsibility. Amadou Onana arrived from Everton to replace Douglas Luiz, while Ian Maatesen and Enzo Barrenechea added greater depth.
