Emi Buendia is determined to play a pivotal role for Aston Villa as the club embarks on its second Champions League campaign under Unai Emery, beginning with a challenging away fixture against Club Brugge on Tuesday night.
The Argentine midfielder was a key figure in Villa’s historic Europa League triumph last season, scoring a spectacular goal in the final against SC Freiburg. That marked one of his 11 goals in what was his most prolific season since joining the club in the summer of 2021.
Buendia endured a setback after suffering an ACL injury, which sidelined him for the entire 2023/24 season. This injury curtailed his appearances during the early part of Villa’s initial Champions League campaign two seasons ago, after which he spent time on loan at Bayer Leverkusen. However, after an unexpected comeback last year, he is once again eager to make a significant impact as Villa embark on their latest European adventure.
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“The comeback was very important to me,” Buendia said. “I worked hard to stay and contribute to the team’s success, as we saw last season. The same intention applies this year. I want to be a key player, and I work every day towards that. I also want to support the new players who have joined so we can succeed together.”
Buendia is among just five starters from the Europa League final to remain with Aston Villa following a summer overhaul, during which 10 new players have been added to the squad. Despite this significant turnover, Buendia emphasises that the club’s core philosophy remains unchanged.
“Our responsibility is to help the new players settle in,” he said. “The club’s structure and philosophy are clear; it doesn’t matter how many players change. The tactical analysis for each match remains precise. Tomorrow’s away game in Europe will be a tough test, but our mentality is consistent with previous years: we play to win.”
Reflecting on the departure of many teammates over the summer, Buendia acknowledged the challenges but focused on the positives brought by the new arrivals.
“It’s never easy to part ways with players you’ve shared experiences with over many years, but football is constantly evolving,” he remarked. “Now we have new experiences with players like Leon Goretzka and other young talents who have competed at top clubs. The outlook is promising; these players are in an excellent environment to develop and improve. They are already quality players today and have the potential to become even greater figures in the club’s future.”
With a blend of experience and emerging talent, Buendia and Aston Villa aim to build on their recent successes and make a strong impression in this season’s Champions League campaign.