How Unai Emery saved Aston Villa in just 63 days

Emery has transformed Villa from one shot on target in three games to 20 goals in seven, securing a 2-1 win over Manchester City on Saturday.

Unai Emery has orchestrated a remarkable turnaround at Aston Villa in just 63 days, taking the club from a disastrous 4-0 opening-weekend loss at Brighton to a 2-1 victory over Manchester City on Saturday—inflicting City's first domestic defeat under Enzo Maresca.

The transformation began after the transfer window closed, when Emery finally knew his full squad. Rather than rushing new signings into action, he integrated them gradually, relying on experienced players like Tyrone Mings, Matty Cash, John McGinn, Emiliano Buendia and Boubacar Kamara to guide the 10 new arrivals. Mings described the group as having been "oxygenated," with everyone looking forward to what they could achieve together.

The statistics tell the story: after managing just one shot on target in the first three league games, Villa have scored 20 goals across their last seven matches in all competitions. The defence has also solidified, conceding just two goals in the last four games after shipping 14 in the first eight. Emery's tactical adjustments, combined with extra training ground work and a useful three-week international break, have been crucial to the revival.