Aston Villa supporters are reportedly furious following claims that Unai Emery has taken drastic action against two players after the club’s disappointing UEFA Super Cup defeat to Paris Saint Germain.
Villa suffered a 2 1 defeat to the Champions League holders in Salzburg on August 12, with Désiré Doué scoring the decisive goal after Brian Madjo had remarkably equalised for Emery’s side.
The result was painful for Villa, particularly after their outstanding Europa League campaign, but the performance itself contained several positives. The young side competed against one of Europe’s strongest teams and came close to forcing the match into a penalty shootout.
However, reports circulating among supporters have claimed that Emery is considering major changes to his squad, with two players allegedly facing contract termination following their performances.
It is important to stress that there is currently no reliable confirmation from Aston Villa that Emery has terminated the contracts of two players because of the PSG match. The club’s official post match report described the performance as a strong effort despite the 2 1 defeat, rather than announcing disciplinary contract cancellations.
That has not stopped the speculation from creating a major reaction among sections of the Villa fanbase.
Many supporters understand Emery’s desire to raise standards. The Spanish manager has transformed Aston Villa into a regular contender in European football, guiding them to the Europa League title and another major European final. Yet some fans believe terminating contracts immediately after one difficult match would be an extreme response.
The Super Cup was always going to be a difficult assignment for Villa. Several important players were unavailable, including Ollie Watkins, Emiliano Martinez and Ezri Konsa following their World Cup involvement. Emery was also dealing with injuries and a squad that has undergone significant changes during the summer.
Villa also lost several important players during the transfer window. Morgan Rogers moved to Chelsea, Youri Tielemans joined Manchester United, while Lucas Digne completed a return to PSG. Douglas Luiz and Jadon Sancho have also departed the club.
That context makes the idea of terminating two more contracts particularly controversial.
Fans expect Emery to demand more from his players, but they also recognise that the squad is currently in transition. A disappointing result against PSG does not necessarily mean individual players have failed to meet the manager’s long term expectations.
The match itself offered evidence that Villa still have plenty to build on. Seventeen year old Brian Madjo scored on his competitive debut, becoming the youngest scorer in UEFA Super Cup history. His performance was one of the biggest positives to emerge from the defeat.
There were also encouraging moments from Villa’s new look team, with the side creating opportunities against PSG despite facing the reigning European champions.
For Emery, however, the defeat continued a remarkable personal record. The Spanish manager has now lost all four UEFA Super Cup finals he has contested, despite winning the Europa League five times.
That statistic will undoubtedly increase the pressure on the manager to make the right decisions as Villa prepare for the new Premier League campaign.
Supporters are therefore watching closely to see whether further squad changes are coming. If two players genuinely are removed from Emery’s plans, the club would need to clarify whether the decisions are related to the PSG performance, wider squad planning, contractual matters or transfer strategy.
For now, the strongest evidence points toward a club undergoing significant rebuilding rather than an immediate mass punishment following the Super Cup defeat.
Villa fans may be frustrated by losing another European trophy opportunity, but there is reason for optimism. The club competed against PSG with a depleted squad, gave valuable experience to younger players and demonstrated that Emery’s project remains capable of challenging elite European opposition.
The priority now will be turning that encouraging performance into results when the Premier League season begins.
If Emery does decide to remove players from his plans, supporters will expect clear explanations. Until Aston Villa or Emery officially confirms any contract terminations, claims that two players have already had their contracts terminated should be treated as unverified reports rather than established fact.
What is certain is that Aston Villa’s summer has entered another important phase. After winning the Europa League, losing the Super Cup narrowly to PSG and seeing several established players depart, Emery faces one of the biggest squad-building challenges of his Villa career.
The manager’s response could define whether the club’s European success becomes the beginning of a new era or simply a brief high point.