Philippe Senderos shares what he realised about Aston Villa after leaving the club

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Former Aston Villa player Philippe Senderos has now shared how he felt about the club shortly after leaving in 2016.

Senderos is mostly known for his Premier League career with Arsenal, amassing 113 games for the club in total.

Fulham were then the Swiss centre-back’s second most represented team, playing 68 games in total.

But having represented Aston Villa just nine times during his two year stay between 2014 and 2016, the club still left a big impression on the defender.

Of course, Senderson will see two of his former sides come together when Unai Emery’s team travel to the Emirates on Sunday.

A big game for both clubs, and Villa fans will be hoping for a more concerted effort than when away at the Etihad recently.

Emery made changes on that occasion, and may well do so again after facing Lille in the Europa Conference League tonight.

But there’s only so many points that Villa can let slip away if they are going to secure fourth position.

Philippe Senderos admits he didn’t realise how big Aston Villa were until he left the club

That all being said, Philippe Senderos has now been discussing his time at Aston Villa on talkSPORT.

The defender originally praised the club’s excellent facilities, but said it wasn’t until he left that he realised just how big the club is.

He explained: “I think when I first played at Villa Park that’s when I really felt it.

“When you walk through the door at the training ground and the training grounds look a lot like each other, they are amazing. Bodymoor was fantastic.

“And the fans behind the goal are fantastic. You do feel the weight of that. And afterwards, when you leave the club, you do realise how big Villa is.”

Of course, Senderos isn’t the first player to admit their surprise at just how big the club felt once they joined.

Jermaine Jenas recently admitted that he wishes he had joined Aston Villa much sooner than he did.

But with the club looking likely to play in the Champions League next season one way or another, that soon won’t be such a well kept secret.

Emery’s project is attracting the best of Europe’s talent to the club, just look at Moussa Diaby for example.

And that explains why Kia Jorrabchian is now trying to take a £50m Arsenal target to the club.