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Aston Villa undergoes changes while preparing for Champions League return

The Guardian Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 22, 2026, 7:00 PM

Last updated Aug 22, 2026

Aston Villa undergoes changes while preparing for Champions League return

Summary

Aston Villa embarks on a fresh beginning ahead of the Champions League campaign after the departure of key players this summer. The club achieved notable success last season, winning the Europa League and finishing fourth in the Premier League, marking their best performance since lifting the European Cup in 1982. The arrival of younger talents aims to bolster the squad after a challenging start to the previous season, where they failed to secure a win in their first five league matches. The team has generated excitement about the upcoming season and its potential for continued success.

Source Links

The Guardian Sport

By the Numbers

•Aston Villa won the Europa League last season.
•The team finished fourth in the Premier League, securing Champions League qualification.
•Key players have departed while younger talents have been introduced.
•The team aims to build on last year's success despite early struggles.

Latest Updates

7:00 PMThe Guardian Sport — Aston Villa upheaval is a risk but Emery can release v2.0 and reap rewards | Jonathan Wilson

What they're saying

"
After exodus of key players, youthful arrivals over the summer amount to a fresh beginning with plenty to get excited about Last season was the greatest Aston Villa have enjoyed since they won the European Cup in 1982. They claimed their second European trophy by lifting the Europa League, but even without that would have secured Champions League qualification by finishing fourth in the Premier League. Despite a miserable start during which they failed to win any of their first five league games, there was even a spell around Christmas when it looked as though Villa might be challengers for the title. The question after a season like that is always: where next? Continue reading...
— The Guardian Sportby Jonathan Wilson

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Aston Villa Champions League Soccer