Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is set to pursue his first Super Cup title when his team faces Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in Salzburg on Wednesday. Emery, who secured his fifth Europa League title with Aston Villa in May, ending the club’s 30-year trophy drought with a victory over Freiburg in Istanbul, has not yet won the Super Cup despite three previous attempts.
Emery has experienced three consecutive Super Cup defeats. He lost to Real Madrid and Barcelona while managing Sevilla. His third defeat came in 2021 with Villarreal, losing on penalties to Chelsea in Dublin. Notably, a 5-4 extra-time loss to a Barcelona side featuring Lionel Messi occurred in 2015, a year after Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to secure the trophy for Real Madrid.
Despite these past results, Emery views the upcoming match as an opportunity. He stated that playing for trophies is a professional objective and that a trophy can provide a special moment. He acknowledged PSG as the favourites but expressed eagerness to test his team’s capabilities against them. Emery also highlighted the pride associated with competing for such a trophy for the coach, players, and club.
Squad Changes and Challenges
The upcoming match in Austria will feature a significantly altered Aston Villa lineup compared to their last encounter with PSG 484 days ago. Key players such as Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne, and Youri Tielemans have been sold. Additionally, Amadou Onana is sidelined with an injury until next year, and Boubacar Kamara is just returning from a serious knee injury sustained in January.
Furthermore, Emi Martinez, Ezri Konsa, and Ollie Watkins have not travelled with the squad, having been granted a month off by Emery after their participation in the World Cup. These changes mean that potentially only four of the starters from the previous match against the French champions 18 months ago might feature for Villa, with five substitutes from that game also no longer at the club.
Despite the significant squad changes, Villa captain John McGinn remains optimistic, noting that the club has consistently competed with top teams in England and Europe. He emphasized that the team retains its core, the same manager, methods, and desire for further achievement. McGinn expressed excitement about the “new Aston Villa,” highlighting the club’s structure and standards that have contributed to its success.
Previous Encounters and PSG’s Form
Wednesday’s game is a rematch of the Champions League quarter-final from the 2024-25 season. In that tie, Aston Villa, after trailing 3-1 from the first leg at Parc des Princes and falling 5-1 behind on aggregate in Birmingham, mounted a comeback. They won the second leg 3-2 on the night, ultimately bowing out 5-4 on aggregate. This performance was seen as a strong indication of Emery’s ability to transform Villa into a team capable of competing with Europe’s elite.
PSG midfielder Vitinha acknowledged the difficulty of their last encounter with Villa, particularly the second half. He stated that PSG would be ready but conscious of the challenge ahead. Vitinha also dismissed suggestions that the Super Cup is merely a glorified friendly, emphasizing the team’s continued hunger for victories and trophies despite their recent successes, which include four Ligue 1 titles.
Marquinhos, PSG’s defender, also stressed the importance of the competition for the club to maintain its winning momentum. PSG, who were the eventual winners of the Champions League in 2024-25, have continued to strengthen, with players like Ousmane Dembele, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Desire Doue leading their attack. The team’s consistent performance has led to multiple domestic and European titles since their last meeting with Villa.
Emery, who previously managed PSG for two years, understands the club’s ambition. PSG’s chief executive, Victoriano Melero, has spoken about the club’s aim to compete with top football brands on the pitch and global labels off it. With 6,000 Villa fans travelling to Salzburg, the match offers another opportunity for Aston Villa to measure themselves against a top European side.
Emery expressed his comfort and happiness in his role, stating that he is even more demanding than in previous years and that the club wants more success. He believes the club is in a new era with the possibility to fight for trophies, making the Super Cup a significant test for his evolving Aston Villa squad.
The match is scheduled for Wednesday.
Source: bbc.co.uk
