Unai Emery ready to explode over Aston Villa 'nightmare' as Insider spots 'bad sign'
Unai Emery has become increasingly frustrated at Aston Villa over the course of the summer and after a slow start to the season.
Emery lost the core of his squad during the transfer window, with the spine of his team having been sold off for big fees, largely to rival clubs in the Premier League.
Former Aston Villa scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that he has been surprised by the club's transfer activity and expects Emery to be raging behind the scenes.
The likes of Ollie Watkins, Emiliano Martinez, Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers were all moved on, and while mulitple signings were made, the squad has been weakened.
Meanwhile, losing key leaders and influences in the dressing room is expected to make the manager's life harder, with concerns growing behind the scenes.
Why is Unai Emery frustrated at Aston Villa?
Football Insider revealed on 21 August that Emery has "serious concerns" about his Aston Villa squad and the number of important players who have been allowed to leave.
With the squad having been decimated, and results failing to match early-season expectations, there is a growing sense of unrest around Villa Park.
Emery has been backed to succeed in spite of his challenges, as he has proved in the past he is capable, but questions are being asked about his views on the situation.
"Aston Villa have had a nightmare this summer, and that's putting it lightly," Brown told Football Insider.
"After they won the Europa League last time out, you were looking for them to push on, strengthen the squad, and put plans in place to compete in the Champions League.
"Instead, the spine of their squad which has brought so much success has been ripped out, and they are now in a very difficult position.
"The manager is frustrated, because those players were key both on the pitch and in the dressing room, and that has been made clear by their dismal start to the season.
"If results don't pick up, the new players struggle to adapt, and the impact of these losses continues to be made clear, then of course questions are going to be asked.
"I'm surprised Emery hasn't already expressed his frustrations, he seems to have remained quite tight-lipped about it all, which might be a bad sign in general.
"But any manager would struggle when put in the situation he has been put in by the club, regardless of their reasons for letting these players go.
"All eyes are now on the manager and what he can do, because I'm sure he will be able to work with this squad, but there is a lot of work to be done and it's going to be a big job."
Could Emery decide to quit Aston Villa?
Transfer window frustrations and a nightmare start to the season are not just proving frustrating to Emery, but also to the fans, who have seen their side torn apart.
Questions are being asked of the club as well as the manager, and claims that Emery could walk away have reignited after last season saw the suggestions crop up.
Former Aston Villa scout Bryan King told Football Insider on 2 September that Emery could leave Villa Park this season if their new signings do not hit the ground running.
Villa have replaced their losses with 10 new players but many of them are young and have never played in the Premier League, leaving Emery with a huge job on his hands.
Emery is under contract at Villa Park until 2029, and has never publicly strayed from his commitment to his side, but continues claims of frustration are building up.