It is difficult in sports for a team to truly come together. Although Aston Villa have many returners, making it easier to gel that much more quickly for the upcoming campaign, there is far from anything resembling certainty on the pitch at any time.
While every side would love to obviously win the opening match of the season and ideally progress through the campaign undefeated, that is not too likely to happen for anyone in 2025-2026.
Instead, a lot of the opening fixtures often can serve as something of an extension of the preseason. The new year makes it so that there is always something of a reset. How teams manage these first couple of matches and attempt to still gain the full amount of points is what ultimately dictates the pace for a lot of the season.
Granted, as Villa fans witnessed last year, a side can always find another gear during the later parts of the season. The key there is not being so far behind in terms of points regarding whatever the team's goals are for the campaign.
Regardless of which club, it is also important to not peak too early. A lot of teams will come out looking great, winning and dominating preseason fixtures, only to find that they have plateaued by the time the winter months have passed.
Evaluating the Aston Villa preseason
It can be a difficult balance to find, but this is part of the challenge that Unai Emery faces as manager. He knows that he will want to see Villa end the year in a Champions League spot and with something new to add to the silverware cabinet. Ensuring that the side knows what is expected and also not pushing for the max potential output quite yet are two important aspects to consider.
This is something to keep in mind during Villa's Nashville preseason game and the remaining friendlies on the slate for the summer.