'Proud' Buendia says Super Cup defeat the start of new era for Aston Villa

Aston Villa were beaten 2-1 by Paris Saint-Germain in Wednesday's Super Cup final in Salzburg, but Emiliano Buendia believes the clash signalled the dawn of a new era for Unai Emery's ambitious side.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's stunning 20th-minute finish gave the European champions the lead, but 17-year-old Brian Madjo pulled Villa level on the stroke of half-time — becoming the youngest scorer in Super Cup history in the process. Desire Doue restored PSG's advantage just past the hour, with his goal initially flagged offside before a VAR review awarded it.

Villa pushed the holders all the way, but PSG became just the fourth team to retain the Super Cup, and the first to do so since Real Madrid in 2016 and 2017.

Asked whether this represented a new era at Villa Park, Buendia told TNT Sports: "Yes, football is like this. There are changes but the structure and philosophy are here. We know the structure and have to move on."

It has been a summer of significant upheaval at Villa Park, with Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers and Lucas Digne all departing, while Emiliano Martinez, Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa were all absent following deep runs at the World Cup.

Despite the defeat, Villa could count themselves unfortunate not to force extra time. They ended the game with an expected goals (xG) total of 2.13 from their 15 shots — four on target — compared to PSG's 1.03 xG from 12 attempts.

"Not a good feeling. We can be proud of the game we did. We competed well. We had chances," Buendia conceded. "They are top players. They get chances, they score and they win the game. We were there and competed very well [at 1-1]. At the end of the first half, we had chances. In the second half we were showing character."

Madjo, who also became the youngest player to start a Super Cup final on record (since 2006), was central to Villa's threat, finishing with team-high totals for shots (six), touches in the opposition box (eight) and aerial duels (eight). He also became Villa's youngest scorer in any competition since Louie Barry (17 years, 201 days) against Liverpool in the FA Cup in January 2021.

Buendia was full of praise for the teenager: "I tried to help him. He is young but he has good development."

Villa now turn their attention to a final pre-season friendly against Borussia Monchengladbach this Saturday, before opening their Premier League campaign away to Brighton on August 23.