Emery insists Aston Villa not underestimating 'dangerous' Viking after Bayern draw

Emery keeps Villa grounded after 'amazing' European start

Aston Villa return to Villa Park on Wednesday to face Champions League debutants Viking, and Unai Emery is refusing to get carried away despite his side's "amazing" start to the competition.

Villa have taken six points from their opening two games, most recently recording their biggest-ever win in European competition — a 6-0 thrashing of Fenerbahce in which Nicolas Jackson and Ross Barkley both scored twice. Yet they come up against a Norwegian side riding the high of stunning Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

Viking's night to remember in Munich

Gianni Stensness and Peter Christiansen had Viking two goals up by half-time at the Allianz Arena, but Ballon d'Or favourite Harry Kane scored twice in quick succession to level the contest. Luis Diaz then put Bayern ahead before Michael Olise was sent off, and Herman Haugen popped up with a 90th-minute equaliser to seal a share of the spoils.

Viking have faced English opposition only twice before — two meetings with Chelsea in the first round of the 2002-03 UEFA Cup (a 1-2 away defeat and a 4-2 home win) — and they will be bidding to become the first Norwegian side ever to win away to an English team in European competition.

Records on the line for Villa

Should Villa win, they would become the second-fastest team to reach 20 European Cup/Champions League victories — in their 30th game — behind only Real Madrid, who won 20 of their first 29. A victory would also give them four consecutive wins in the competition for the first time.

Emery, however, insists respect for the opponents is non-negotiable. "Champions League. Every team that plays Champions League because they deserve it, and they are dangerous," he told reporters. "Viking, they drew against Bayern Munich last week; they lost against Stuttgart. They are with Bodo/Glimt in the league, first and second with the same points.

"Bodo/Glimt has been a successful team in the last few years in Europe, performing well, getting good results, playing in the Champions League, beating important teams. So Viking is now a new team as well, with the capacity to draw against Bayern Munich, the capacity as well to compete against Stuttgart and to compete against us.

"This is the Champions League, and it is very difficult. We now have six points. It's something amazing, but very difficult, and to keep the same way we are is our challenge."

Manzambi's rise halted by injury

Johan Manzambi marked his Champions League debut — and his 21st birthday — with a goal in the win over Fenerbahce, becoming only the second player, after Spartak Moscow's Romulo against Barcelona in September 2012, to score on his first appearance in the competition on his birthday. The Switzerland international followed that with another goal against Newcastle United, becoming the fourth Villa player to either score or assist in each of his first three Premier League starts, after Dalian Atkinson (August 1992), Dion Dublin (November 1998) and Danny Ings (August 2021).

Since his first start for the club on September 19 against Tottenham, only Manchester City's Erling Haaland (six) has been involved in more goals among Premier League players in all competitions than Manzambi (five — three goals, two assists).

Manzambi was replaced by Ibrahim Mbaye in the 72nd minute at St. James' Park with what Emery described as a "minor injury," and the winger will miss the Viking clash.

Injury pile-up but 'no excuses'

Manzambi's absence adds to a mounting medical list, with Matteo Ruggeri expected to miss around two months and Aaron Wan-Bissaka sidelined for three to four weeks. Emery, though, refused to use the injuries as an excuse.

"We are accepting of the injuries we had before. So many players we had injured in our process here, and now we're still having some, like [Amadou] Onana for a long time, like Matteo for more or less two months," the Villa boss said.

"Coming back and joining us is Ian Maatsen. He's joined us and is training with us this week. Manzambi has a small injury. He's not available [against Viking]. Aaron [Wan-Bissaka] has an injury as well. More or less, we expect three or four weeks.

"We have enough players, no excuses, and we'll find solutions if we need to achieve our performance, of course, collectively and individually in each position."