Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterIt's not been the start to the season that Aston Villa would have wanted.Just a few months on from lifting the Europa League trophy and securing a top four finish, Unai Emery's side were thumped 4-0 by Brighton and Hove Albion on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.Just to make matters worse, the situation around Ollie Watkins has left a bad taste in the mouths of many supporters."Unai Emery has geared Aston Villa up for consistent success in Europe"Emery was cryptic as to what has gone on with the England striker, saying that the reason for Watkins' omission against Brighton was 'a question for him'.That comes after several high-profile players have already left Villa Park this summer, including Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa, with Emiliano Martinez also being tipped to go. You may like Unai Emery's Europa League champions are the most likely non-Big 6 side to disturb the Premier League title race - Aston Villa 2026-27 season preview Aston Villa move for Alejandro Garnacho is a game of risk and reward its a sign of Unai Emerys faith in his methods What Chelsea fans can expect from former Aston Villa set piece coach Austin MacPhee But Peter Crouch believes that the Villa boss has already shown he is more than capable of riding out to storm and continuing to take the side on to bigger and better things over the long run.The former Villa striker told FourFourTwo earlier this summer: "Unai Emery deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the really elite managers, with what hes done at Aston Villa.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over."Winning the Europa League was massive, and Champions League football again is going to help them take things up another notch in the long term."Im pleased for the fans whove suffered over the years."I interviewed Unai at the training ground and hes in it for the long haul. Why wouldnt he be? Theyve got ambition."Theyve built a hotel at the training ground thats important because they might fly back from a European game, sleep there, then do a warm-down the next day."Hes geared that club up for consistent success in Europe, and I think thats what theyll get."Villa will find out their opponents for the league phase of this season's Champions League when the draw is made on Thursday, August 27.TOPICSPeter CrouchUnai EmeryAston VillaSteven ChickenSocial Links NavigationSteven Chicken has been working as a football writer since 2009, taking in stints with Football365 and the Huddersfield Examiner. Steven still covers Huddersfield Town home and away for his own publication,WeAreTerriers.com. Steven is a two-time nominee for Regional Journalist of the Year at the prestigious British Sports Journalism Awards, making the shortlist in 2020 and 2023.
