Unai Emery hopes Aston Villa avoid repeat of last summer's troubles | OneFootball

Unai Emery wants a smoother summer as Aston Villa try to avoid a repeat of the issues that blighted the season’s start.

According to ExpressAndStar.com, a restricted window left their spending limited by Premier League and UEFA financial fair play rules, and Villa failed to win any of their first six matches in all competitions.

They rallied to finish fourth and lifted the Europa League, ending a 30-year wait for a major trophy. Emery hopes similar disruption can be avoided, while recognising they compete with clubs able to spend more.

He said: “We had some troubles at the beginning of the season which, hopefully, this year we are not going to have. How we reacted this season, to finish in the top-five, makes sense of our way here.”

Emery added that keeping the right balance is important for him, the club and supporters as they push on from his best season so far.

This is the first summer since Roberto Olabe replaced Monchi as president of football operations. Olabe, noted for spotting leading young talent at Real Sociedad, has been tasked with delivering similar recruitment at Villa.

Paris Saint-Germain’s teenage winger Ibrahim Mbaye is among targets, with Emery seeking extra pace in attack. He also wants a midfielder and a defender who can cover right centre-back and right-back.

Villa have chosen not to trigger the £23million option to buy for Douglas Luiz, who will return to parent club Juventus.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com