NEWS. . . BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Ezri Konsa will be out injured for “three or four weeks” and will miss Aston Villa’s games against Chelsea and Manchester United.
Unai Emery broke the news in his press conference ahead of Wednesday night’s FA Cup fourth match replay against Chelsea.
Villa will then host United in the Premier League on Sunday and will need a win to keep their name aspirations alive.
But they will be without key defender Konsa for both, after the 26-year-old limped after hitting the post in the Villans’ 5-0 win at Sheffield United last Saturday.
Although his injury is not as serious as feared, Emery revealed that he could be out until next month by giving an update on his side: “Ezri is injured.
“He’s got a sprained knee and possibly won’t be available. I don’t know, 3 or 4 weeks or so.
“Lucas Digne is progressing very well but may not be available tomorrow. Pau Torres has started his training with the squad and will be on the bench tomorrow. But Jhon Durán is still injured.
Konsa has played one of Aston Villa’s 34 games this season, and the centre-back is aiming to be part of England’s squad for Euro 2024.
If his manager is right, he will also miss the games against Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Luton, as well as the fifth round of the FA Cup, if they get there, but possibly in time he will be fit to face Tottenham on March 10 .
Since the goalless draw at Stamford Bridge last month, the Blues have been on the brink of embarrassing defeats to Liverpool and Wolves, but Emery says he still hopes “the Chelsea” show up at Villa Park:
“We drew there, but we suffered a lot in the first half, they were bigger than us. Little by little, in the second half we imposed our ideas, our game plan, and we also had to score and win.
“But we didn’t deserve it. And they deserved more in the first half, it was Emi Martinez’s job, and defensively as well, the team worked very well.
“Tomorrow I expect the best from Chelsea because they have reached the final of the Carabao Cup. For them this festival is also very important because they are not in Europe.
“And they have a very smart coach. They are improving a lot, they lost the last two games against Liverpool and Wolverhampton. Wolverhampton played very well, very competitive, each and every game in the Premier League is very complicated. .
“But I expect them to give their best, individually and collectively, and they will be very focused, because for them it is very important. We will respect them a lot and prepare for the game as much as possible.
Put us in your feed