Aston Villa stars fuming after being left dripping in sweat minutes into matches

26 September 2023 , 18:00

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Aston Villa's players have complained about their shirts (Image: Foto Olimpik/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Aston Villa’s players have moaned to the club about the quality of their shirts.

‌Unai Emery’s first-team squad is unhappy with the performance of their jerseys in matches - complaining they are heavy and uncomfortable - and they have demanded change. Club captain John McGinn and his team-mates have become increasingly frustrated by a problem that has been plaguing them since the opening day of the season at Newcastle.

‌Villa’s shirts, which are manufactured by Manchester-based firm Castore, appear to retain the sweat, and Emery’s players have been dripping with perspiration just minutes after matches have kicked off.

The issue was particularly acute during last week’s trip to play Legia Warsaw in their opening Europa Conference League game - and now the players have decided enough is enough.

‌The club’s hierarchy is aware of the problem and has approached Castore for a solution - with speed now of the essence. The powers-that-be will not take ‘no’ for an answer, either, as this is seen by Villa as a performance issue - and any failure to address it quickly will be frowned upon.

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The club's change kit is also thought to be suffering from the same malfunction and that too needs ironing out. However, replica shirts will not be affected - a resolution is only initially being sought for the first-team.

‌The news will come as a major embarrassment for Castore who only signed a ‘multi-year’ deal with Villa at the start of last season. They also have agreements with Newcastle United, England’s cricket team and Sir Andy Murray, among others.‌

Villa's Castore shirts appear to retain the sweat (Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)

Ironically, Castore’s tagline reads: ‘Demand better - premium performance,’ which is exactly what Villa’s players are hoping they will deliver. Fans will also have noticed how Villa went without a shirt sponsor when they faced Legia Warsaw.

This is because Poland's gambling laws prevented Villa's sponsor, Asia-based online betting firm BK8, from being advertised on the front of their shirts.

Villa lost in Poland, but immediately bounced back to record an impressive away win at Chelsea on Sunday. And Emery insisted that was the first step in juggling multiple competitions.

“We have to separate each competition, and in the Premier League we’re trying to be consistent.” Emery’s side begin their Carabao Cup campaign on Wednesday night, when they face Everton at home.

Neil Moxley