Unai Emery says the loss of atmosphere at Villa Park because of building work is no excuse for their slow start to the season.
Villa are yet to win at home this season after drawing with Brentford at the weekend, and host Fenerbahce in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Villa Park’s North Stand is closed to fans at the moment as the club spend £100m on a redevelopment ready for Euro 2028.
Emery was asked if the works were an issue for his team, who have slipped to 16th in the Premier League.
“To play in the Champions League is a really huge, huge challenge and we are excited to share this with the fans at Villa Park, playing against the best teams in the world,” Emery said.
“We are reminding ourselves of 1982 when Aston Villa won this title, reminding ourselves how much we enjoyed playing at this level two years ago. Now it is the same.
“I am very motivated and excited to share with the players our motivation and with our supporters our motivation. Tomorrow we will be at Villa Park with the energy we need.
“We have one handicap because we have less support. At the beginning of the season the club decided it, and it is an improvement for the future. It is not an excuse.
“We have to be together and without 7,000 supporters, everyone must support each other. Play football, play football, play football. Play football better than we did and be demanding more than we have been.”
Villa had a turbulent summer in the transfer market with key players Ezri Konsa, Emiliano Martinez, Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins all leaving.
But Emery, who guided them to Europa League victory last season, is expecting improvements.
He said: “We are realistic about how we are working and improving things. But it is not enough yet, so we are having lots of conversations with the team, in meetings and with videos, practicing too to show improvements in matches.
“At Villa Park, we have not won yet, so it is very important how we can improve things to be closer to winning. Tomorrow is a very good opportunity to do one step forward in those improvements and the players as well to get confidence and feel comfortable.
“Villa Park is for us something very, very special. It should be like the four years that we are here – how we achieved this as a special place, our fortress. Tomorrow is a new challenge to show it.”
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