Aston Villa manager Unai Emery aims to break his losing streak in the Super Cup as his team prepares to face PSG at the Red Bull Arena.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is preparing to face his former side, PSG, at the Red Bull Arena in pursuit of his first Super Cup title. Emery has previously suffered three defeats in the competition while managing Sevilla and Villarreal. Despite the match being viewed by some as a pre-season fixture, Emery emphasized that competing for any trophy remains a primary objective for his club.

Emery's history in the competition

Emery’s previous attempts at winning the Super Cup include a 5-4 extra-time loss to Barcelona in 2015 and a defeat to Real Madrid in 2014, both while at Sevilla. In 2021, he managed Villarreal in a penalty shootout loss to Chelsea in Dublin. Emery noted that his captain, John McGinn, had reminded him of the Chelsea defeat ahead of this upcoming match.

PSG perspective and team preparations

PSG players Vitinha and Marquinhos stated that the team remains motivated to win despite their recent successes. While Vitinha acknowledged that PSG's pre-season was short, he emphasized the squad's continued hunger for trophies. The club also requested and received an additional dressing room from UEFA at the Red Bull Arena.

Aston Villa squad changes

The upcoming match serves as a rematch of the 2024-25 Champions League quarter-final, which PSG won 5-4 on aggregate. Aston Villa’s squad has undergone significant changes since that encounter, with players like Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne, and Youri Tielemans having been sold, and Amadou Onana sidelined by injury. Additionally, Emi Martinez, Ezri Konsa, and Ollie Watkins have not traveled as they are on a month-long break following the World Cup.