Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has called on his players to face the reality of a bruising Premier League opening day, saying the club must accept full responsibility following a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion.

Villa were overwhelmed from the first whistle, conceding all four goals before the interval as Brighton dismantled their defence with clinical efficiency. It was a chastening start to the new campaign for Emery's side.

The Spanish coach did not shy away from the scale of the damage, insisting that acknowledging such a heavy defeat is the first step toward recovery. His message to the dressing room was clear: no excuses, no deflection — only honest reflection.

Brighton's ruthless first-half display left Villa with a mountain to climb after the break, and despite any second-half efforts, the scoreline remained unchanged at full time, leaving Emery to conduct a frank post-match assessment.

The result marks a difficult opening statement for Aston Villa in the new Premier League season, and Emery will be under pressure to ensure his squad responds with greater defensive organisation and collective resolve in the weeks ahead.