Details from Unai Emery's Press Conference Ahead of Aston Villa vs Newcastle

Unai Emery faced the media this afternoon ahead of Aston Villa's opening game of the Premier League season against Newcastle. The Spaniard discussed team news, preparations for the upcoming campaign, ambitions for this season and transfers.

𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄

🆚 Newcastle (H)
🏆 Premier League
🗣️ Unai Emery pic.twitter.com/Nu7HU98Ypk

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) August 15, 2025

Team News

The big talking point is that Morgan Rogers is fit to feature tomorrow despite suffering an ankle injury in the game against Roma.

Ross Barkley and Andres Garcia are both ruled out with injuries they picked up early on in pre-season. Emiliano Martinez is suspended for one game following his red card against Manchester United on the final day of last season.

Preparations for this Season

Villa had a strong finish to their pre-season, beating Villarreal 2-0. Ollie Watkins had standout performances, scoring five goals in five games. Morgan Rogers and Donyell Malen also impressed.

When discussing preparations for this season, Emery said the following:

"We did a fantastic pre-season. There were different steps we did. The first two weeks, we were working with a lot of young players from the Academy.

“Then we went to the United States and played three matches there at different levels, adapting to the players that were with us after their summers playing with their national teams.

“The last step we did last week, playing three matches with different players, trying to get our best fit for the players and to continue building the team for the starting XI for tomorrow."

Ambitions

Ahead of the match Emery spoke about the ambitions and objectives for the upcoming campaign. He expressed the desire to win a trophy at Villa and to continue to compete in Europe. With the Europa League to contend with, it is another competition where the Villans could achieve this.

“I’m starting with the same objective. Four competitions: Premier League is the first one, Europa League is the second one, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

“In those competitions, we have to try to do our best. To win a trophy is next step forward I want to do after playing in Europe. I can’t refuse that the overall objective I have is to play again in Europe, even in front of one trophy. We can share both and try to get both, but the next year I want to play again in Europe.”

Facing Newcastle

There have been goals galore when Villa and Newcastle have met previously. In fact in the last three meetings between the two sides, there have been twelve goals scored.

Unai on our opening day opponents 🗣️#AVLNEW pic.twitter.com/NSEMb8yRrn

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) August 15, 2025

On what to expect from the Magpies, Emery answered,

"It will be very difficult. They have a very good structure tactically and are strong with individual players. Collectively, they are such a strong team offensively and defensively to get a lot of duels.

“Our experiences playing against them in three years, winning and losing, hopefully tomorrow at home we can add our supporters pushing us.

"Hopefully we can start again, competing against them, showing our power and capacity with our performance in our tactical idea and individual skills.”

Final Weeks of the Transfer Window

Villa have had a quiet transfer window so far, largely due to the financial regulations of both the Premier League and UEFA restricting what Villa can do. Marco Bizot and Evan Guessand have been the only senior incomings so far, but Villa would like a couple more additions. Jacob Ramsey is set to join Newcastle and Leon Bailey is likely to follow him out the door.

When Emery was asked whether he was frustrated by the financial rules, he shared, "I am not frustrated - I accept the rules and how we are competing, also how we are being ambitious to compete with the better teams in the Premier League and in Europe... We are trying to get the target we have. I am motivated and excited, not frustrated. I accept it (the rules)."

Emery was also asked about the remaining weeks in the transfer window and whether he wants to bring Marco Asensio back. "The transfer window finishes for every team on September 1st at 7pm - I know the time as well! We have to be alert in case we add players, to bring them and help increase the level and capacity in the squad."