Unai Emery heralds Aston Villa's 'new era' ahead of PSG in the Super Cup
· John Townley · 2026-08-11 · nguồn gốc
Unai Emery insists that Aston Villa have entered a new era of competing for trophies after winning the Europa League last season. His side have the chance to lift more silverware on Wednesday night when they take on Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup.
Villa beat SC Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul to claim their first trophy for 30 years and their second major European honour, following the European Cup in 1982.
PSG, meanwhile, will face Villa with the objective of winning successive Super Cups after beating Tottenham Hotspur on penalties last summer.
Villa boss Emery is expecting a huge test against PSG, but it’s one he and his players are relishing.
“If we are being successful, it’s because we are getting a good development in everything – about the club, about the players – and through it as well, we can add more followers or get more brand in the world of football," he said.
“To play (in the) Super Cup is another opportunity to be there – the opportunity to win a trophy, to play against PSG, the better team now in the world than other teams we can compare with them.
“How we are going to play, enjoying the moment we will have with our supporters for this Super Cup, is something for our history and future of this club. It’s really fantastic, because we are in the top positions when we are having matches like we are going to play.
“Of course, PSG is a huge test, because normally they will have the opportunity as a favourite to win this trophy, but how we are collectively as a club – individually, even myself competing with Luis Enrique – is something that makes us so proud of how we are in the football world now.”
Aston Villa will face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup final on Wednesday, August 12, as the Europa League and Champions League winners meet in Austria. Fans can watch the game live on TNT Sports via HBO Max or Prime Video's HBO Max channel.
He added: “It’s very important how we are doing the way, and in football we are trying to be successful through firstly building a winning team, and then with the positive consequences after it, to win trophies.
“For me, Europe is very important personally, because I am playing in Europe as a manager, 16-17 years in a row. And of course, it gave me a lot, Europe. And to achieve it with Aston Villa is something I am feeling the club is taking a new era with this possibility to fight for trophies.
“The first objective we had here when I arrived was (to) play in Europe, being consistent. Of course, if it’s Champions League, better, but Europa League or Conference League. And through it, try to be a contender for trophies in Europe.
“We played the semi-final three years ago, Conference League, we played the quarter-final (of the) Champions League two years ago, and we played the final and we have won this trophy last year in Europa League. It’s something that makes sense, my message when I arrived here.”