Gary Neville has expressed "concern" about the possibility of Emery leaving Aston Villa.

The Spanish manager led Villa to the Champions League for the second time in three years last season, finishing fourth in the league and winning the Europa League.

However, after selling several key players in the summer transfer window, Emery's team has suffered a clear decline. Players such as Rogers, Konsa, Digne, and Tielemans have left the club, with many joining Premier League rivals.

The impact was immediate: Aston Villa lost 4-0 to Brighton in their opening match, with their expensive signing João Gomes sent off in the first half after a mistake led to the fourth goal.

Fans have heavily criticized Villa's thin squad, and now Manchester United legend Gary Neville has also voiced concerns about Emery's frame of mind.

Gary Neville said on a podcast: "The goals Villa conceded were very poor. But when you look at Villa's starting lineup and then look at the bench, you think: 'The core of this team has been stripped away.'

"You see the players who left – Tielemans, Rogers, Konsa. And think about Newcastle's depleted midfield, and the lost experience there. There's also something strange happening with the financial sustainability rules, and it seems nobody knows where the money actually went. It's all a mess, isn't it?"

"So Villa will be sitting there, and Villa fans will be sitting there. They have a fantastic manager, and one of the big things I thought during that 4-0 match was: 'They have to keep Emery.' Will Emery think: 'Wait, I can't be associated with a team like this'?"

Emery looked very angry at halftime and walked straight down the tunnel after the match without shaking hands with the opposing manager.

Gary Neville continued: "I really want Villa to succeed, and I want Emery to continue managing. I enjoy seeing different teams qualify for the Champions League. Watching Villa play over the last few seasons has been a pleasure."

"I like Emery, and I like his approach and the way his team plays. It's been great to see them come so far from the Championship 10 years ago to where they are now."

"It's been an incredible journey for them, and a gradual climb to this position. But everything can change very quickly. They have to keep the manager, and they also need to try to sign some players this week."

"Villa are in a good position right now. They will play many great matches this season. Seeing that result was certainly surprising. Congratulations to Brighton, but it was a real shock. What immediately worried me about Aston Villa is whether they can keep their manager."

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