Aston Villa and Unai Emery endured a pretty difficult pre-season ahead of the team’s return to the Champions League.
Yes, many will tell you that pre-season is all about the players building up their fitness, or in the case of new players, trying to feel at home.
But Aston Villa’s defeat to Borussia Dortmund on Saturday was their fourth loss this summer, with many players struggling and very few putting themselves in the good books.
Pau Torres’ form for Aston Villa is worrying, Youri Tielemans is looking strong in midfield and Morgan Rogers was the standout attacker.
Emery could save Villa millions as Kosta Nedeljkovic continues to shine at right-back, with question marks over the future of Matty Cash and Villa desperate to sign Lutsharel Geertruida.
You wonder how Aston Villa could line up for their pre-season opener against West Ham – it’s a trip to the London Stadium next Saturday evening for the boys in claret and blue.
Many are rightfully calling for Nedeljkovic to start that match because, even at 18, he is looking rather impressive on that right-hand side.
Kosta Nedeljkovic in pre-season for Aston Villa
As mentioned above, Rogers has the goal contributions and looked at it from the get-go in pre-season.
But you could argue that Nedeljkovic has outperformed him in pre-season and been his side’s best player in what has been a dismal few weeks for the rest of his teammates.
From that perspective, it’s rather impressive and shows what Villa have got on their hands because he looks ready to take the Premier League by storm.
If you are good enough, then Emery will throw you in the deep end, no matter what, and it seems like the club has found a real quality player here.
Aston Villa’s defence is a real worry
The problem is that Villa looked shaky at the back post-February when Boubacar Kamara suffered a season-ending injury.
Emery still managed to push the team over the line, in terms of securing Champions League football, but those same defensive fragilities are there – 11 goals conceded in pre-season with only two clean sheets isn’t a positive sign, at all.
READ MORE: What Jurgen Klopp once said about Aston Villa target Joe Gomez will excite Unai Emery
Ezri Konsa returned to the starting XI after featuring for England at Euro 2024, as did Emiliano Martinez after he guided Argentina to Copa America glory.
Those two will help immensely, but Villa need to make serious changes at the back, or else, they will struggle to finish in the top six ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
