Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has denied that there is a friendship between the two Premier League giants, for the numerous transfers between the two sides are not about friendship, but about business. The two teams have made eight permanent/loan transfers in four years – more than any Premier League combination during that time. But a competitive football business means that they’re not close allies, Emery said.
“Good relations? We want to kill them, and they want to kill us,” Emery told reporters Sunday.
Since BlueCo’s takeover of Chelsea in 2022, the transfer flow between the clubs has risen. The London outfit has been busy signing Villa players since then, and Villa have also brought in players from Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have recently signed England midfielder Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for a sum of British record £117 million ($159.51 million). Rogers made his Premier League debut for Chelsea against Fulham, in front of a home crowd of 13,870, and made an immediate impression with his goal.
Villa have also added other notable signings such as Nicolas Jackson, whilst Emiliano Martinez, the goalkeeper, has also signed for the Blues. On loan from Barcelona, Alejandro Garnacho moved to Villa on the condition of a permanent sale next year.
Reports in the British media suggest that Villa have cost Chelsea over £160 million since 2022. Villa, on the other hand, have been spending in the opposite direction, with £102m being paid for players. Emery admitted he had been affected by the pacts on the players but said that the main thrust of the deals was on the competition between the clubs.
“It’s good for Emiliano Martinez, good for Morgan Rogers and I’m not happy for Chelsea,” he said. However, Villa now face a huge challenge in a Premier League match against defending champions Arsenal on Monday as Emery’s men seek to consolidate their position in the top-four.
