Pride in defeat

In Salzburg, Aston Villa lost 2-1 in the UEFA Super Cup, but Emiliano Buendía made it clear that the team can be proud of what they showed. "It's not a good feeling. We can be proud of the match we played. We competed well, we had chances," expressed the Argentine after the match. Villa, who was playing in just his second Supercup, created more chances than his opponent, with an xG of 2.13 compared to 1.03, although the opponent's hierarchy ultimately tipped the balance.

The impact of the youth and the beginning of a new era

Brian Madjo's goal, at just 17 years and 212 days old, not only equalized the score before halftime but also made him the youngest goalscorer in Supercup history. Buendía praised the young player: "I tried to help him. He is young but has great potential." Madjo led the team in shots, touches in the opponent's area, and aerial duels, confirming that Villa has a future. For Buendía, this is the beginning of a new era at Villa Park: "Yes, that's how football is. There are changes, but the structure and philosophy remain. We have to move forward."

Signs of character and reconstruction in Villa Park

Beyond the result, Aston Villa showed character at certain moments of the match. With key players like Emiliano Martínez and Ollie Watkins absent, and after a summer of changes with the departure of important players, Unai Emery's team made it clear that they are in the midst of a full reconstruction. The defeat does not overshadow the context of transformation the club is undergoing, but rather reinforces the idea that a competitive project is taking shape. Now, the focus shifts to the friendly against Borussia Mönchengladbach and the Premier League debut against Brighton on August 23.

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