Unai Emery Names PSG Favorites Ahead of UEFA Super Cup Clash with Aston Villa
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has openly acknowledged that Paris Saint-Germain are the favorites heading into Wednesday's UEFA Super Cup encounter. Despite Villa’s impressive rise to this stage following their Europa League victory, Emery is keen to ease pressure on his squad by highlighting PSG’s status as reigning Champions League winners.
Emery Shifts Expectation onto PSG
Speaking in Salzburg ahead of the match, Emery made it clear he believes the French side holds the upper hand. He said, “We are going to try to get the message across to the dressing room, preparing for the match knowing that they feel like favorites. Because of course they are.”He reflected on a prior meeting between the two clubs during the Champions League quarter-finals two years ago. Although Villa lost, Emery recalled that performance showed they could compete with Europe's elite.
Villa Face Absences and Squad Challenges
Villa's preparations have been complicated by the unavailability of key players. Emery confirmed that Emi Martinez, Ezri Konsa, and Ollie Watkins have not traveled to Austria after demanding international duties over the summer. The manager defended resting them, explaining, “They finished the season on July 19 and I have given them four weeks of vacation, I think it is completely necessary.”
Additionally, summer signing Manzambi remains sidelined with injury, further testing squad depth. On a brighter note, Villa recently secured a multi-million-pound payout for qualifying for the event, potentially strengthening their position in the final days of the transfer window. When asked about transfer targets, Emery remained non-committal but acknowledged interest in Joao Palhinha.
Luis Enrique Voices Frustrations Over PSG Squad
PSG coach Luis Enrique has expressed his own difficulties managing player availability. The World Cup caused late returns for several stars, disrupting pre-season training. Enrique admitted, “I do not have players. Some players returned on Monday, and others returned last week.”
He pointed out the challenge of gauging who can handle full matches given limited minutes in preparation. Reflecting on last season's success, Enrique commented, “Last year was exceptional, and this year is too. In terms of preparation, it is difficult to manage the number of minutes each player can play. We will try to play at the best possible level.”
High Stakes in Salzburg
The showdown offers both teams a chance to prove themselves on a big stage. For Villa, it’s about showing their Europa League triumph wasn’t a one-off and demonstrating they can challenge Europe’s finest. Emery is relying on his squad’s momentum and young talent, adding, “We prepare for the match with the players we started with four weeks ago, also with the young players.”
Despite his squad challenges, Enrique remains cautious about underestimating Villa, emphasizing the importance of winning a European trophy. He concluded, “It is important for every team to win a European title, and we will see what kind of match the two teams can produce tomorrow.”
- UEFA Super Cup Date: 12 August 2026
- Kick-off Time: 21:00
- Teams: Paris Saint-Germain vs Aston Villa
