Unai Emery will have been stung by finishing fourth last season – not because it was not a success, but because he wanted more.
Aston Villa have not finished in the top three under Emery and it was a stated goal of his last season.
He will want to compete with Arsenal and Manchester City again this term, having been in the title race talk up until early in the new year.
This time, the reigning Europa League champions go to Brighton on 23 August – 11 days after facing Paris St Germain in the Super Cup in Salzburg.
The Champions League schedule is seen as less gruelling than the Europa League grind of games on Thursday and Sunday, and Villa want to beef up their squad to compete on all fronts.
Arsenal, Hull, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham await before the international break in September and October – allowing Villa to test themselves against the champions while also looking to pick up early points.
They dramatically beat the Gunners at Villa Park last campaign and Emery will be looking for an early marker.
Villa ending a 30-year wait for a trophy and winning European silverware for the first time since 1982 will not matter to Emery, who is always out for improvement.