\n<\/p>\n
Despite the departures, optimism remains. The battling Super Cup defeat in Salzburg by Paris St-Germain<\/a> earlier this month still showed Villa’s competitiveness and Emery’s powers of adaptability. <\/p>\n Emery has had to roll with the punches during his three-and-a-half years in charge but he has consistently improved Villa, having taken over when they were 14th following Steven Gerrard’s reign. <\/p>\n In Austria, skipper John McGinn pointed to the fact they still have Emery while others – Manchester City<\/a>, Liverpool<\/a> and Chelsea<\/a> – have new managers and that Villa’s structure remains intact. <\/p>\n “We have a structure in place, standards and rules which have made us a success. I am really excited about the new Aston Villa<\/a>,” said McGinn.<\/p>\n That includes Brian Madjo after Villa won their battle with Fifa to register the 17-year-old earlier this month.<\/a><\/p>\n The striker scored on his debut against PSG, eight months after initially signing from Metz for \u00a310m, and could prove one of the surprises of the season. <\/p>\n The drive towards younger players comes after Roberto Olabe replaced Monchi last September as president of football operations with a long-to-mid-term directive on transfers. <\/p>\n Midfielder Joao Gomes, 25, was sent off on his Premier League debut for the club at Brighton<\/a>, while goalkeeper Suzuki, 23, and defender Matteo Ruggeri, 24, started on the bench. <\/p>\n All three have joined this summer after 20-year-old Johan Manzambi became the club’s record buy in July.<\/a><\/p>\n Villa have also had an \u00a318m bid rejected<\/a> for 24-year-old Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis. <\/p>\n