Ian Maatsen Eager For Champions League Challenge With Emery's Aston Villa
Ian Maatsen praised Aston Villa's head coach, calling him brilliant as the club gears up for its first Champions League appearance this season. Maatsen completed his £37.5 million transfer from Chelsea while on international duty with the Netherlands at Euro 2024. The 22-year-old signed a six-year contract at Villa Park after an impressive loan spell with Borussia Dortmund last season.
Maatsen made 16 Bundesliga appearances for Dortmund, scoring two goals and helping the team reach the Champions League final. He played the full match in their 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid at Wembley. "Last season they did very well and the coach obviously is a brilliant coach with a lot of experience in Europe," Maatsen told Aston Villa's official club website.
Unai Emery, Villa's head coach, led the team to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League. Emery is renowned for his success in European competitions during his time in Spain, having won the Europa League four times. He also guided Villa to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League last season.
"They are playing Champions League football this season so it is exciting," Maatsen added. "He is a manager who loves to play football and win trophies. That was the challenge for me to come here and show the people that I am capable of doing these things at the highest level."
Maatsen made his Champions League debut in Dortmund's last 16 fixture against PSV Eindhoven, going on to make seven appearances in the competition. Despite predictions that Villa might struggle balancing league and European commitments like Newcastle, Maatsen remains confident about their prospects.
"It's good because obviously we are here now to earn a spot in the Champions League every year - it's such a great competition," he said. Maatsen is one of seven new arrivals at Villa Park this transfer window, with Emery spending £140 million after Amadou Onana joined from Everton on Monday.
Upcoming Season Challenges
Villa will start their 2024-25 season away to West Ham on August 17. They have not beaten West Ham away in the league since a 2-1 victory at Upton Park back in April 2011. The upcoming match will be crucial as they aim to break this long-standing record.
The defender expressed his enthusiasm about joining Villa and competing at high levels under Emery’s guidance. "First day in the building for Ian Maatsen," tweeted Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) on July 22, 2024.
First day in the building for Ian Maatsen pic.twitter.com/M2CqNOH726
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) July 22, 2024
Maatsen did not feature for Ronald Koeman's side during Euro 2024 but remains optimistic about his future contributions to Aston Villa. His arrival marks an ambitious step for both him and the club as they prepare for their Champions League journey.
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