Aston Villa: Unai Emery chases his first Super Cup

Wednesday’s game between Villa and PSG is a repeat of the Champions League quarter-final from 2024-25.

Trailing 3-1 from the first leg at Parc des Princes and falling 5-1 behind on aggregate in Birmingham, Villa were so close to pulling of a huge shock.

They roared back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 on the night, eventually bowing out 5-4 on aggregate, and it was one of the biggest signs Emery had turned them into a side which could compete with Europe’s best.

It is something which has stuck in the minds of the PSG players, with Vitinha wary of Villa’s threat.

“It was such a difficult test, especially the second half,” said Vitinha.

“We’ll be ready but we’re conscious of how difficult it’s going to be.”

Villa’s line-up in Austria will have a drastically different look, just 484 days since that game.

Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne and Youri Tielemans have been sold while Amadou Onana is out injured until next year.

Fellow midfielder Boubacar Kamara is in the squad, but is only just returning from a serious knee injury he suffered in January.

Emi Martinez, Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins have not travelled after playing at the World Cup, with Emery giving them a month off.

It means there is a chance just four of the starters who faced the French champions 18 months ago will start for Villa. Five of the substitutes that night are also no longer at the club.

For a team so settled and consistent as Villa under Emery that is a drastic change.

“A lot has changed in the eight years I’ve been here,” said skipper McGinn.

“When you are signing the best young English talent and players are performing at the highest level there will be interest.

“We have a structure in place, standards and rules which have made us a success. I’m really excited about the new Aston Villa.

“We have our main core, the same manager, same methods and same desire to achieve more. A lot of people thought we reached a ceiling a couple of seasons ago and we proved them wrong.”