Unai Emery says Monchi exit ‘changes nothing’ at Aston Villa

Unai Emery insists the departure of Monchi as Aston Villa’s president of football operations “changes nothing” at the Premier League club.

Monchi played a role in Villa securing Champions League football last season, when they reached the quarter-finals before losing to eventual winners Paris St Germain, and the 57-year-old has been described as a key ally of fellow Spaniard Emery.

Villa have moved quickly to fill the gap caused by Monchi’s resignation, appointing former Real Sociedad sporting director Roberto Olabe.

“We arrived three years ago with the project we did with the club,” head coach Emery said before Villa’s opening Europa League tie at home to Bologna on Thursday.

“Monchi arrived six months after we arrived here. He was very good, but after two years he needed another chapter in his career. I am wishing him the best in his new chapter.

“It is something progressively we were working on after speaking with Monchi. After the window finished we spoke about it (him leaving).

“We decided with him and the club to do a normal transition. It changes nothing, only changing the man.

“We reacted quickly by bringing in one person I know personally. I have a lot of confidence with Roberto and he is coming to help us.”

The surprise news of Monchi’s departure has added to the sense of early-season gloom around Villa Park.

Hampered by the Premier League’s strict financial profitability and sustainability rules, homegrown talent Jacob Ramsey was sold to Newcastle to satisfy PSR.

Villa are currently 18th in the Premier League, having drawn three and lost two of their opening five games and scored only once – in a 1-1 draw against 10-man Sunderland.

Emery hopes to kick-start Villa’s season in a competition he won four times