Aston Villa boss insists no frustration at financial challenges ahead of Manchester City test

Villa boss Unai Emery says he relishes building new teams and is not frustrated by financial restraints that have hampered the club.

Premier League leaders Manchester City come to Villa Park on Saturday with a perfect record after seven matches but a dark cloud of uncertainty hanging over the top flight due to the recent recent guilty verdicts on 114 financial charges.

Villa, who are currently renovating their stadium to improve capacity and revenue streams, have been heavily restricted by both domestic and continental financial regulations during Emery’s four years at the helm.

A summer of charge saw a sea of big-hitters exit the club as Villa looked to the future with the addition of several bright talents - a model Emery insisted he enjoys.

“Every year we needed to sell some players, but we have bought players too, with potential,” Emery said. “We did something after we sold.

“This summer was a little bit different, we sold more than we usually do.

“We were buying younger and more players than we did before. That needs time to get them to understand our demands.

“But I’m not frustrated, I like to build teams, to watch them individually and collectively to see how they progress.”

Villa’s budgeting and restrictions are not lost on Emery, who side-stepped questions on Manchester City’s 114 guilty verdicts.

“I’d like sometimes to buy the best players in the world!” Emery smiled. “ But I accept how we are and what is our capacity.

“But the club is doing huge work in a lot of things in our budget, the next step forward is Villa Park and the 50,000 capacity.

“We are moving in the right direction, to be intelligent and work maybe even harder than other clubs to exploit our young players, with their talent, but I like it.”

New City boss Enzo Maresca has his side three points clear at the summit with seven wins, though a question mark hangs over both the Citizens and the league, with an appeal process ongoing.

"I can't speak about it. Why? Because I don't know,” Emery added.

"I can speak about how Manchester City play for the four years here, and before.

"I played with Sevilla against Manchester City in the Champions League, in Seville we lost 3-1 and 2-1 in the last minute in Manchester.

"This progression of this club - I was always involved in the sports side, analysing their play.

"It is fantastic. It is very difficult to watch a team like how they played with Guardiola, and with Maresca as well, they are still in the same way. Maresca is a very, very intelligent coach.

"I think he can give them another level."