Unai Emery has challenged Aston Villa’s players to raise their standards after admitting the club’s rebuilt squad now has no distractions following the closure of the transfer window.
Villa travel to Hull City on Saturday after losing their opening two Premier League matches without scoring, leaving Emery’s side on zero points while the newly-promoted Tigers sit joint-top following successive victories.
Speaking before the trip, Emery made it clear that the period of uncertainty surrounding Villa’s dramatic summer overhaul is now over.
Unai Emery sets Aston Villa challenge after difficult start
The transfer window saw Villa lose several established players while bringing in a host of replacements, including Nicolas Jackson, Ibrahim Mbaye and Taylor Harwood-Bellis during the closing stages.
Emery says everyone now knows their position within the squad.
The Villa boss said the squad is “clear” following the end of the window and stressed that his players must work hard every day while maintaining the standards demanded by the coaching staff.
That message comes before a potentially important afternoon at Hull.
Emery acknowledged the striking contrast between the two clubs’ starts, pointing out that Hull have six points while Villa remain at the bottom end of the table with “two matches and zero points.”
Villa’s attacking numbers make the situation even more uncomfortable.
Emery’s side are yet to score or register a shot on target this season, and we have already looked at how Villa could make unwanted Premier League history at Hull.
The manager nevertheless believes the answer lies in rebuilding Villa’s collective structure rather than panicking after two defeats.
He wants his new-look team to become stronger mentally and individually while rediscovering the competitive identity that carried Villa into the Champions League last season.
Hull provide immediate measure of Villa rebuild
Hull have won their opening two Premier League fixtures following promotion and are yet to concede.
Emery described their start as giving them confidence and made clear Villa will treat Sergej Jakirovic’s team with considerable respect.
Our Aston Villa predicted XI against Hull includes several changes following Villa’s late transfer business, with Mbaye and Harwood-Bellis now available.
Johan Manzambi has also returned to group training as Emery gradually gains access to the squad assembled over the summer.
The transfer window can no longer dominate the conversation.
Emery’s message is that the rebuilding work now has to happen on the pitch.
