'Better way' - Aston Villa star makes bold claim after summer rebuild

Matty Cash believes rebuilt Villa are in a better position than they were at this point a year ago following their summer of huge change.

Unai Emery’s team, after another slow start, have climbed into the top half of the Premier League thanks to winning three of their last four matches.

Last season they pushed on to complete the club’s best season for 30 years, finishing fourth in the Premier League and winning the Europa League.

And while Cash is not prepared to set any firm targets for the current campaign, he is excited by the potential.

“At the start it was taking time. Now, woah, we are probably in a better way than we were last season,” he explained.

“I know that’s mad to say. But the way we are playing, the way we are training, putting in information no-board, doing it altogether, I think we are in a really good spot.”

Saturday’s win over Manchester City was Villa’s sixth in their last seven matches in all competitions, an identical run of form as when they beat City at home last October.

It was at that point their season really kicked into top gear, with a defeat at Liverpool followed by a club record equalling 11-match winning streak.

Emery believes a top-four finish is again a realistic goal this time around despite seeing more than half his starting XI from the Europa League final depart.

The speed at which new recruits Nicolas Jackson, Johan Manzambi and Zion Suzuki have learned, during the manager’s infamously long video sessions, has been key.

“You have to take it in – or you won’t be playing at the elite level,” said Cash.

“If you don’t take information on-board at this level, then you’re in the wrong job, you know!

“We have been working together for a long time now. Players know the structure and know what he wants.

“The players that have come in have adapted really well. Taking all the information onboard and that’s why we are putting in results like Saturday.”

Villa return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup fourth round.

They then host Fulham before trips to Barcelona and Manchester United before the international break.

“To play at the Nou Camp and play in these big games, Champions League nights at Villa Park, it’s what you want as a footballer,” continued Cash.

“We have got a really exciting schedule coming up. We have had an exciting schedule to this point and we have produced and done well.”

“We spoke about (target) last year. I think we are so early on. We have played eight games, so let’s take it game by game, like we did last year.

“We ended up winning a trophy and finishing in the top four. This year we have got a young squad and hopefully we can keep progressing.”