Unai Emery insisted Aston Villa have not yet fulfilled their potential as he promised fans “we are not stopping here” ahead of the Super Cup clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
Villa, following their Europa League triumph, will take on the two-time reigning European champions PSG in Salzburg on Wednesday.
The Villans not only secured their place in the Champions League for this season via their Europa League success, but also with a top-four finish in the Premier League.
Villa have had a busy transfer window, with key players Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers and Lucas Digne all leaving, with the latter potentially set to play against them in this game.
Johan Manzambi and Joao Gomes have come into Emery’s squad, and while the Spaniard is now having to reshape his team, he is confident Villa have a bright future.
“I have been here four years at Aston Villa. I am happy with how we are responding and how the players are responding,” said Emery, who confirmed Villa will be without Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Emiliano Martinez.
“The players have followed us and everything we are trying to set in our standards.
“We want to build our own mentality. We are thankful for the players. But we want more. We are not stopping here.”
Unai Emery: “To play for trophies, as a professional, is our objective.” #SuperCup
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) August 11, 2026
Asked if Villa were still hoping to do more business, Emery said: “The effort is not changing. The club is making a really huge effort. The club is moving in the same direction as I am trying to move,” Emery said.
“We are increasing our budget through the good results on the pitch and through selling some players. Aston Villa now can have a better brand in the way we are progressing. It is a huge responsibility for me and the players.”
Former PSG boss Emery has lost all three of his appearances in the Super Cup, losing with Sevilla against Real Madrid and Barcelona in 2014 and 2015, respectively, and then losing on penalties to Chelsea with Villarreal in 2021.
PSG coach Luis Enrique, meanwhile, has won the trophy twice.
His PSG side triumphed on penalties against Tottenham last year, while back in 2015 his Barcelona team beat Emery’s Sevilla 5-4, in what is the highest-scoring single Super Cup match to date.
