HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens: Aston Villa ‘stronger’ as they begin title defence
- Captain James Wright says Villa boast ‘a strong squad that is arguably stronger than last year’ before men’s tournament starts on Saturday
- Masters event begins on Friday with former English Premier League stars featuring for PFA All Stars
Aston Villa captain James Wright said his side had arrived in Hong Kong with potentially a stronger team than last year as they look to retain their HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens crown this weekend.
Wright’s team will be joined by fellow academy sides from West Ham United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Fulham, Leicester City and Newcastle United when the main men’s event starts on Saturday, but the defending champions’ skipper warned they had no intention of being deposed easily.
“We’ve got a strong squad,” goalkeeper Wright said. “I believe in the boys, they believe in themselves, we’ve got a strong coaching staff behind us and a strong squad that is arguably stronger than last year.
“Going off that basis, we’ve got a good chance to hopefully carry on that legacy.”
Wright joined Villa from Manchester City in 2020, going on to sign his first professional contract in 2022, and said he had benefited from training alongside a World Cup-winning goalkeeper, in Villa’s Argentina No 1 Emiliano Martinez.