Unai Emery must gel new Villa side quickly

Al Hilal confirmed the signing of Ollie Watkins for a reported £51m fee on Sunday.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery says his overhauled squad have to hit the ground running.

Villa’s Europa League winning team has been ripped apart this summer as Ezri Konsa, Morgan Rogers, Emiliano Martinez, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne and Ollie Watkins have all left.

Nicolas Jackson, Leon Goretzka, Johan Manzambi and Alejandro Garnacho are among those who have arrived and Emery needs his new men to bed in quickly.

Al Hilal confirmed the signing of Watkins for a reported £51m fee on Sunday, ​as the 30-year-old striker ended a successful ‌six-year spell with the Midlands club.

Villa lost last weekend’s Premier League opener 4-0 at Brighton and things do not get any easier as Villa host champions Arsenal at Villa Park on Monday.

“In football, if you are expecting transition, maybe you are not in the right way,” Emery said.

“We must compete, we must win. We have to rebuild the team as fast as possible; we have to accept our way, our decisions, and why we are taking some decisions, but I am positive, and we are working.

“At the same time, rebuilding the team with the players, they can understand how we want to play, and trying to give some necessary time for some players to adapt to us.

“Of course, some players, they will need more time than others, and the players, they are with us for a long time.

“They must compete now, strong, and of course with all the ideas we were building, and trying to adapt the new players as fast as possible.

“For example, last week, we played with 10 players – they were here last year. The only player that was not, was Joao Gomes. This is the objective.

“Of course, we didn’t perform, we didn’t compete, and we must do everything faster, and the next challenge is on Monday, and the Premier League is not waiting.

“There are 38 matches to play, points to play for. We have lost the first match with those three points, and Monday, hopefully, Villa Park is like how we always felt there – supporting, playing with us, and we will need them again.” 

Jackson will be reunited with Emery after their time together at Villarreal and the Senegalese is looking forward to renewing their relationship.

He (Emery) was a big factor when I arrived in Spain,” Jackson said on the club’s official website.

“He’s been very important to me since the beginning; he’s always asking about my family. He developed me in Villarreal, and I’m very happy to be here and working for him again.

“We will work and try to push together as always, trying to achieve things together like we did in Villarreal.

“Hopefully this year we will achieve many things, and for many more years to come as well.”

PA and Reuters