Aston Villa opened their Champions League campaign with a 3-2 victory over Club Brugge on 8 September, ending a three-game domestic scoring drought in emphatic fashion. John McGinn registered the club's first goal of the season before Emiliano Buendia restored the lead, and Nicolas Jackson added a third before half-time at the Jan Breydel Stadium. Nicolo Tresoldi pulled one back from the penalty spot after an Aaron Wan-Bissaka handball, but Villa held on for the win.
According to Birmingham Live, Emery used his post-match press conference to explain the specific tactical adjustments he is making with Jackson. The head coach stated that he has been working with the forward to alter his movement in possession, encouraging him to stay high rather than dropping deep. Emery told reporters that Jackson naturally likes to come short but needs teammates making runs beyond him, praising McGinn and Buendia for taking on that responsibility during the match.
Sports Mole reported that Emery acknowledged the necessity of introducing more of his summer signings into the starting eleven soon. For the European opener, only Wan-Bissaka, Joao Gomes and Jackson came into the side, with Matteo Ruggeri, Alejandro Garnacho and Ibrahim Mbaye beginning on the bench. Gomes was available because his three-match domestic suspension does not apply in Europe, while Wan-Bissaka started after Matty Cash suffered muscle fatigue.
Emery described the squad as a work in progress following significant changes during the summer transfer window, which closed on 1 September. He stressed that new arrivals must understand the team's structure and demands before earning regular minutes, noting that patience is required as players adapt to his methods.
The victory gave Emery the highest win percentage among managers who have taken charge of an English club for ten or more Champions League matches, having now won nine of his thirteen games in the competition. Villa return to Premier League action against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
