Aston Villa’s new owner spells out his lofty ambitions
ASTON Villa’s new owner has spelled out his ambitions for the football club.
In his first public press conference since taking over the fallen giant, Dr Tony Xia said he wanted Villa to become one of the greatest clubs in the world.
Fans who witnessed the club’s toothless demise during the last Premier League campaign may applaud his ambitions but their heads will tell them the club is in for a sharp dose of reality when it begins its Championship campaign in August.
Nevertheless, Dr Xia said he believed the club now had a manager in place who could help it achieve these ambitions – with the first priority for Roberto di Matteo being promotion from the Championship in his first season in charge.
In an interview on the club’s website, Dr Xia said: “I am obviously excited – but I have also calmed down because it is not the time to celebrate yet.
“We hope we can be more excited after one season.”
He said the club would benefit from its large – and loyal – fanbase, while it had everything in place for a revival in its fortunes, including a strong academy set-up.
“There’s been a slight delay but now we need to get everything back to the right track as soon as possible,” he added.
“Fortunately I think we have been sharpening everything. The management team is ready and they have already been working hard for the past weeks.
“My long-term aim is to make Aston Villa the greatest club in the world, a club taking the leadership of the modern new age – maybe more than that.
“I am happy that Roberto was willing to take this challenge with us. I do need someone who is really into this and also confident enough to succeed. I think he is the right one.
“He is someone with successful experience in the Championship, successful experience in the Premier League and is a European champion.
“Also, he is one of the most intelligent coaches I have known. I can say, just like me, we are common in the way that we can succeed in different fields.”
Lastly – and the most importantly – he said the Italian understood what his ambitions were and had the will to make it happen.
