Unai Emery has admitted Aston Villa are still in a period of transition as they prepare to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Villans travel to the capital for the 12.30pm kick-off looking to make it back-to-back victories after Wednesday’s Carabao Cup win over Coventry City.
Speaking at Bodymoor Heath on Friday, Emery discussed Villa’s inconsistent league form, the integration of new players, Tottenham’s development under Roberto De Zerbi, Zion Suzuki’s adaptation and the impact of the upcoming international break.
Emery calls for patience during Villa’s rebuilding process
Villa have produced different levels of performance across the competitions this season, according to Emery.
The manager pointed to victories over Coventry and Club Brugge as examples of strong performances, while admitting that the team have not produced enough collectively or individually in the Premier League.
Emery also stressed that Villa are still building their squad after injuries, suspensions and the arrival of several new players.
Johan Manzambi is now returning from injury, while João Gomes has come back from suspension. Leon Goretzka and Brian Madjo remain unavailable.
The manager explained that Villa’s pre-season work was largely completed with players who were already at the club, alongside opportunities for younger players such as George Hemmings and Madjo.
Now, the focus is on integrating the new arrivals and helping them understand Emery’s tactical demands.
New signings still adapting
Emery highlighted Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Manzambi and Matteo Ruggeri as players who are still learning exactly what is required within Villa’s structure.
Ruggeri made his first appearance for the club on Tuesday and is expected to feature again against Tottenham.
Emery also pointed to previous examples of players needing time to adapt.
He recalled Youri Tielemans’ first season at Villa, when the midfielder had to gradually understand the position and role required of him. Morgan Rogers was another player who needed time during his first six months.
The manager wants the latest additions to make an immediate impact, but accepts that the process cannot always happen instantly.
“We want it, but we must try to compete and be patient when the results, like until now, they are not being good enough in Premier League,” Emery said.
Emery expects a difficult test against Tottenham
Emery believes Tottenham are going through a similar period of development, although he stressed that their potential is significant.
The London club have invested heavily in their squad and are also adapting to a new manager in Roberto De Zerbi.
Emery praised De Zerbi’s work at Brighton, Shakhtar Donetsk, in Italy and most recently at Marseille.
The Villa boss believes Tottenham are progressively improving and becoming more comfortable with their playing style.
Players such as Savinho, Pedro Porro and Omar Marmoush have also been returning and becoming increasingly involved.
Emery expects Tottenham to challenge for a place in the top four and believes Villa will need to be strong defensively while also trying to control the game with the ball.
Zion Suzuki making quick progress
One of the players Emery feels has adapted particularly quickly is goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.
The manager praised Suzuki’s understanding of Villa’s approach to building from the back, including how the goalkeeper can contribute during the first and second phases of possession.
Suzuki’s ability to play longer passes behind the opposition defence is another quality Emery believes Villa can exploit.
The goalkeeper’s performances have given the manager confidence that he is adapting quickly to the club’s structure and ideas.
Three-week international break frustrates Emery
The upcoming international break is another source of frustration for Emery.
The Premier League will pause for three weeks, meaning Villa will not play for an extended period.
Emery believes the break comes at an inconvenient moment because the coaching staff will lose several players just as they are becoming familiar with the team’s structure.
Manzambi is a particular example. Saturday’s match will be only his third appearance for Villa, after which he will join up with his national team.
When he returns, Emery expects another period of adaptation will be required.
Despite his concerns, the manager does not want the international break to become an excuse.
Villa will instead continue working with the players who remain at Bodymoor Heath, while those called up for international duty will follow their national-team programmes.
Tottenham clash an important opportunity
Emery knows Saturday’s match carries significance for Villa, particularly given their lack of points in the Premier League.
However, he remains focused on the broader development of the squad.
The manager wants Villa to improve collectively, integrate their new arrivals and continue building confidence while competing in every match and competition.
The visit to Tottenham therefore represents another opportunity to demonstrate progress in that process.
Aston Villa News BR’s view
Emery’s comments provide an important explanation for Villa’s inconsistent Premier League form. The manager clearly believes the squad is still being assembled and that several players need time to understand his tactical demands.
The examples of Tielemans and Rogers show that Emery has previously allowed new arrivals time to develop within his system. At the same time, Villa cannot ignore their league position while waiting for the process to take shape.
The Tottenham match will therefore be another test of how quickly the new-look squad can turn that development into performances and points.
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