Unai Emery issues Aston Villa challenge warning

The boss has declared himself satisfied with a start which has his team sitting in fifth place after seven top flight matches.

Villa have also made an impressive start in the Champions League, beating Bayern Munich in their most recent tie.

But while Emery acknowledges his team are full of belief, he does not yet think they are firing on all cylinders.

“We are playing well but sometimes it’s not enough,” he said. “Last year, we were playing well, sometimes it wasn’t enough.

“I think we are feeling stronger now. At Villa Park (last season) we were winning 15 matches in a row. At that moment, we were feeling so, so strong. This year, we are feeling like we were. That was my objective.

“But I think we will need more. This is the process always when you’re starting the season with new players.”

Villa signed midfielders Amadou Onana and Ross Barkley during the summer, along with left-back Ian Maatsen and winger Jaden Philogene.

Maatsen, who arrived in a £37.5million deal from Chelsea, is yet to start in the Premier League and Emery says it will take time for players to form relationships on the pitch.

He said: “Now maybe they need games to set better with their team-mates.

“We have to be competitive. Taking the best tactical solutions each match how we can increase our level not only with the quality of the players but tactically too.”