Unai Emery says Aston Villa must be ‘ruthless’ after Barcelona defeat

Unai Emery says Aston Villa have important lessons to learn after their perfect start to the Champions League campaign ended with a 3-0 defeat by Barcelona at the Spotify Nou Camp.

Villa had travelled to Catalonia after three successive victories over Club Brugge, Fenerbahce and Viking, but their unbeaten run in the competition was ended by the Spanish giants.

Barcelona took the lead after only seven minutes when Lamine Yamal capitalised on an expensive error by Joao Gomes. Villa responded positively and created chances through Matty Cash, Gomes and Johan Manzambi.

Manzambi went closest to bringing the visitors level after creating two opportunities, but Villa were unable to convert their promising attacking play.

Raphinha then put Barcelona in control by scoring twice in quick succession after half-time. Leon Goretzka hit the post for Villa, while Yamal, Anthony Gordon and Joao Cancelo all came close to adding to Barcelona’s advantage.

Emery, who celebrated his 55th birthday on Tuesday, reacted with visible frustration as Villa missed the opportunity to secure a positive result against one of Europe’s strongest teams.

The defeat nevertheless offered an indication of the progress Villa have made during Emery’s four-year tenure, while also underlining the work still required to compete consistently with the continent’s leading sides.

Villa are Europa League winners, but Emery accepted that their performance at Barcelona fell below the standard they are aiming to reach.

“The test was definitely not in the level we want to achieve but there are a lot of things to learn, a lot of experience for the players and us,” Emery said.

“It is giving me a lot of information to analyse and compete at this level.

“Overall, we are competing fantastically in the Champions League, although playing the match we played we have work to do to get to this level [of Barcelona].

“We were sometimes achieving it and close to scoring goals but we must be ruthless in the attacking third, 3-0 is maybe more than we deserved, but we accept the defeat.”

Villa had enough moments to threaten Barcelona, particularly before Raphinha’s goals, but their lack of precision in the final third prevented them from turning those openings into a more competitive scoreline.

Emery’s side must now use the experience of their first defeat in the campaign as they continue their Champions League challenge, with the Barcelona match providing both encouragement and a clear measure of the gap they still need to close.