Unai Emery, Aston Villa manager, praised his team's competitive spirit following their 2-1 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup final in Salzburg on August 12, 2026. "You can never be happy about losing. But the way we competed and the response we gave on the pitch at all times make us satisfied. We had chances to score. We are proud despite everything of what we have achieved," Emery stated.

 

Injured players to return after World Cup break

Emery confirmed that Emiliano Dibu Martínez, Ezri Konsa, and Ollie Watkins would rejoin training after their World Cup participation. "They will start training now, though they won’t play in Saturday’s friendly. We wanted to give them four weeks off after a tough season," he explained. Watkins had briefly considered playing against Bayern but was advised to rest further. "I’m happy with the decision and how some players responded," Emery added, highlighting the contributions of substitutes Brian Madjo and George Hemmings.

Super Cup final performance met expectations

The Spanish coach emphasized the importance of the squad’s experience and adaptability. "Their experiences and days like this are very important. They show how they are learning after hard work. This is how we decided before the match how we wanted to play," he noted. Emery also hinted at further squad changes before the new season begins. "I wanted this trophy, but I needed to prepare under the circumstances we had. There are no excuses, but how we finished the match—winning duels—lets me feel proud of my decision and the players," he concluded.