Unai Emery has shared his thoughts with Marcus Rashford, advising him that he should focus on football “70 percent of the time.” Rashford, who made a high-profile loan move to Aston Villa in January after falling out of favor at Manchester United, has been given clear expectations by his new manager. While his former Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim, raised concerns about the commitment of the 27-year-old forward, reports suggest that Rashford is dedicated to making a strong impact. Notably, he was willing to participate in additional training during Villa’s scheduled two-day break earlier this week, demonstrating his eagerness to improve and contribute to his new team.
Emery is enthusiastic about the prospect of working with the talented forward, but he has also emphasized the importance of focus and dedication. The Villa manager has made it clear to Rashford and the club’s other new signings that they must prioritize football for the majority of their time. In a recent discussion, Emery explained his expectations, saying, “I want the players thinking about football 70 percent of the time. The rest, they can think about family on their days off. But when it comes to football, that’s the priority, and that’s the message we are giving to the players.”
Emery went on to highlight the team’s approach to creating a mental structure that supports their collective goals. “We’ve had meetings this week to discuss how we want to establish a strong mental framework. We’ve shared our plans with the players and committed ourselves fully to these objectives,” Emery added. “We are in the process of building something new with the new players, but we still have a solid structure with the players who were here before. However, the work we’ve done so far is not enough, particularly in the Premier League. That’s our primary focus, and it’s an area we must improve. We’ve performed well in the Champions League, but it’s the Premier League that needs our attention. The FA Cup also presents a great opportunity to showcase our level and our potential. Our goal is to win a trophy, especially the FA Cup, which is the most prestigious domestic cup in England, and indeed, in the world.”
In addition to Rashford’s arrival, Aston Villa has also secured another exciting player in the form of Marco Asensio. The 29-year-old winger, who has won the Champions League three times, has joined Villa from Paris Saint-Germain. While his signing has somewhat been overshadowed by the attention around Rashford’s move, Asensio’s arrival is significant for Villa. He has been brought in to fill the void left by Emi Buendia, who was loaned to Bayer Leverkusen. Emery shared that he had tried to sign Asensio in the past but was unsuccessful, making this transfer all the more special for the Villa manager.
Emery expressed his delight at finally bringing Asensio to Villa Park, describing the transfer as a great opportunity for both the player and the club. “Marco is 29 years old, and he has experience playing at the highest level,” Emery said. “He possesses a key quality that I always look for in my squad: a left-footed player. He has the ability to link up play with our midfielders and strikers, and he has the potential to score goals.”
Despite facing some challenges at PSG, where he has played sparingly this season, Asensio’s past at Real Madrid proves his capability. Emery believes that this loan move is an opportunity to reignite Asensio’s passion for the game. “It’s a challenge for him and for Aston Villa to get the best out of him. He had limited minutes at PSG, but he was consistently a part of the Real Madrid squad for a long time,” said Emery. “Now, it’s a chance for him to rediscover his form, and for us, it’s a chance to work with him and get the best out of him.”
Emery is determined to make the most of this opportunity, having previously attempted to bring Asensio to his team. “I tried to sign him before, but we couldn’t make it happen at that time. Now, it feels like the right moment for us to work hard and get the best out of him. It’s going to be a challenge, but we’re all ready to embrace it—him, the coaches, and everyone at Aston Villa.”
With Rashford and Asensio joining the squad, Emery has set high expectations for his team as they look to improve their performance in the Premier League and target success in both domestic and international competitions.
