Emery Leaves Key Players at Home for UEFA Super Cup

Aston Villa head into the UEFA Super Cup without some of their biggest names, as Unai Emery has chosen to rest Emiliano Martinez, Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins for Wednesday night’s clash with Paris Saint-Germain in Salzburg.

Martinez, fresh from a gruelling summer with Argentina, has not travelled to the Red Bull Arena. The goalkeeper played all the way to the 2026 World Cup final, where Argentina fell 1-0 to Spain after extra time on 19 July in New Jersey. Days later, Emery drew a line: no Super Cup for his No 1.

He was not alone. Konsa and Watkins have also been left out after their own World Cup marathon with England. Gareth Southgate’s side finished third, edging France 6-4 in a wild third-place play-off on 18 July in Miami. Both Villa men played their part, both now get a breather.

Emery made his stance clear in comments to French outlet RMC, explaining why the trio were nowhere near his squad list: “I gave them four weeks of holiday, and it was really necessary.” After a World Cup that stretched deep into July, the message is obvious – rest now, or pay later.

Their absence hands an opportunity to Marco Bizot. The 35-year-old Dutchman, Martinez’s understudy, is set to start in goal against PSG tonight, tasked with holding firm against one of Europe’s most dangerous attacks. For Bizot, it is a rare spotlight. For Villa, it is a calculated gamble.

Back in Argentina, reports suggest this is only a brief pause for Martinez. Local media indicate he is expected to return to club duty soon and should be ready for Villa’s Premier League opener against Brighton on 23 August. Before that, Emery’s side have one final tune-up: a friendly against Borussia Monchengladbach next Saturday.

So Villa go into a European final without their World Cup heroes, banking on fresher legs now to protect tired ones for the long haul. With the season about to ignite on multiple fronts, Emery has nailed his colours to the mast: rotation over romance, planning over sentiment.