A look ahead for Emery’s side.
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00:00Moving on to Aston Villa, obviously going into a huge season, I want to discuss with
00:07you some Champions League expectations, obviously with the new format, etc. But before we do
00:13that, just a look at their squad and players obviously out on international duty. For example,
00:19Lesley Comstead has been fantastic in the England shirt, stepping in for Mark Gahey
00:23in his last couple of games. In terms of players to watch for Aston Villa this season, who
00:30could steal the limelight? Obviously, it was a fantastic season from the likes of Olly
00:35Watkins and Moussa Diaby at times last season, Douglas Luiz. There's plenty of names in there
00:40that could sort of steal the show, but who could be on the radar for Villa fans to look
00:45out for this season?
00:46I think Konzo, as you mentioned, obviously impressing with England and getting a start
00:50against Switzerland in the Euros. It's a massive achievement for him. Emi Martinez
00:54as well, penalty heroics once again for Argentina, this time in Copa America, advancing to the
00:59latter stages of that competition. But maybe a new signing, Ian Mattson in particular coming
01:05in from Chelsea, of course, was in the Champions League team of the season last season. Didn't
01:10get that many regular minutes at Chelsea, but really impressed at Burnley, really impressed
01:13at Dortmund in the Champions League final at Wembley Stadium. £37.5 million is a lot
01:18of money as well. It's a price tag that carries a lot of expectation, but he should slot in
01:23at that left-back position, rotating with Lucas Dean, maybe offering a little bit more
01:27going forward. I know Dean's fantastic crossing, but he's not got that pace that Mattson will
01:32deliver. Maybe he could be inverted, get a bit further up the pitch. We'll have to wait
01:35and see what happens there, but for me, he's definitely one to watch. Ross Barkley as well,
01:40obviously making his return from Luton Town. He was on loan at Villa, but it was a COVID-ridden
01:44season, so Villa fans didn't really get to see any of him in the flesh. I think he's
01:49going to be a very popular figure, but it waits to be seen. Is he going to be a starter
01:52straightaway? Is he going to be a rotation option? There are so many options in that
01:56midfield that I think he's one to watch. And then Samuel Illing Jr. from Juventus. You've
02:02got Enzo Baranacchia as well. I don't think he'll be starting that regularly. Illing Jr.
02:06probably not going to start regularly either, but the fact he's a pacey, young, raw winger,
02:11he's got the percentage to be a real option off the bench and create some excitement for
02:15fans.
02:16Obviously, on that Champions League campaign, a new format with the league sort of table
02:21system starting from next season. What are Villa's aims in the Champions League? We've
02:28discussed domestically where they want to aim in the league table to try and secure
02:32top four again and really challenge you at the top of the Premier League. But in terms
02:36of that competition, it's not just as simple as Asuna Emre saying he wants to go all the
02:40way, but obviously that is the dream.
02:42I'm excited to ask Asuna Emre, because I think he probably is going to say let's go all the
02:47way. But what are his realistic expectations? Last year in the Premier League, he refused
02:51to say that Villa were even competitors for Europe, let alone the Champions League until
02:56maybe game week 30, 31. Is he going to be similar, be a bit pessimistic with the Champions
03:01League just to make sure that the hopes aren't built up too much and that the expectations
03:04aren't too high? Waits to be seen. But I think the internal target, whether it's public or
03:09not, will be to advance to the latter stages. It has to be, doesn't it? They want to compete
03:14in this competition, be one of the best clubs in the world, not just in England. And that's
03:18their long-term goal. Asuna Emre wants to get European trophies under the belt, Premier
03:22League titles. These things sound crazy considering the competition, but these are the targets.
03:28These are your objectives, a very positive outlook at Villa at the moment. And I think
03:31realistically it's to get out of that group stage, whether it be in the playoffs or whether
03:35it be in the top eight. I think the top eight might be a bit of an ask, but to be in the
03:39top 16 would be pretty impressive. And trying to advance through to the next stage is an
03:44expectation that I think is realistic.