Buy our Aston Villa 2024-25 special – pre-order now from our online store
To celebrate the optimism swriling around Villa Park, we’ve produced a pre-season souvenir special.
Champions League, you’re having a laugh!
Yes, Aston Villa are competing in European football’s premium competition this season and, yes, the claret and blue faithful are having a rather contented chuckle to themselves.
Just five years after being reinstated to the top flight following a Championship play-off final victory over Derby County at Wembley, Villa have gatecrashed the established elite and are hellbent on keeping their place at the top table.
With PSR, FFP and other financial acronyms proving to be more challenging opponents than many of their Premeir League rivals last season, the powers-that-be at Villa Park have been doing some calculated wheeling and dealing this summer.
Losing Douglas Luiz to balance the books has been the biggest blow so far, but Villa’s disappointment at the Brazilian midfielder’s move to Juventus is offset by the arrivals from the Turin club of Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior.
Then there’s the exciting capture of Chelsea’s Borussia Dortmund Championship League finalist Ian Maatsen and Ross Barkley’s return to Witton after a productive spell at Luton Town, with plenty more transfer movement to come.
Amadou Onana’s impending signing from Everton is set to be another major coup for Villa while talented rookie Jaden Philogene-Bidace has been to Hull and back with the prospect of plenty unfinished business in claret and blue when his homecoming is completed.
Having fast-tracked Villa from Premier League also-rans to Champions League competitors within his first 18 months, Emery is determined to maintain the pace of progress.
Being competitive in Europe will be a key priority as will cementing the club’s status in the higher echelons of the top flight. Another top four finish is a big ask, especially with Villa fans crying out for a first trophy in almost three decades but Emery thrives on the expectation and positively encourages the Villa Park masses to dream.
Whichever way you look at it, this is a great time to be an Aston Villa fan and to celebrate the optimism in B6 we’ve produced our Aston Villa 2024-25 Kick Off special, our brilliant guide to the new season.
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