Due to a backlog of games and injuries, Aston Villa’s season is in danger of ending, and Unai Emery’s team is no longer guaranteed a spot in the Champions League for the following campaign.
Villa hit by another defensive injury
Just last week, it was revealed that Tyrone Mings, who had a knee injury at the start of the season, was recovering well. Despite this, it is unlikely that Mings will play for the Villans before the Premier League season ends.
Ezri Konsa, a versatile defender, is also out for at least another two weeks due to injury, while Jhon Duran is another important member of the team depth chart who is also sidelined.
After Diego Carlos was hurt during a practice, they now have an additional center-back issue. Later on, Emery declared that the Brazilian’s ailment was a hamstring strain, and that he would be out for three to four weeks.
It is yet another issue for the midlands outfit to contend with, having lost Boubacar Kamara to a season-ending knee injury in their 2-1 defeat to Manchester United a fortnight ago and with Emiliano Buendia having missed the entire season to date with the same issue.
Ty Bracey, a writer and journalist from Villa, has now commented on the effects of Carlos’s absence. Although it is “another blow” for Emery, he said in an interview with Aston Villa News that there are options in the team.
Villa stuttering at crucial point
Injuries are not helping Villa’s situation, and the return of European football could see them tested once more. Emery’s side were clear favourites for a top 5 spot before Christmas, but have won just three games out of their last seven across all competitions since the turn of the year.
Defeat to Manchester United in the Premier League has seen the Red Devils close the gap in the race for European football, and as it stands, all of Villa, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are separated by just five points, though it remains the Midlands outfit leading the way.
They also await their fate in the last 16 of the Europa Conference League draw, which takes place on Friday, February 23rd, and which the Villans will feel that they have an excellent chance of winning with Emery at the helm.
However, with a smaller squad keeping everyone in peak condition for both competitions will become increasingly difficult, and with tricky Premier League games against Tottenham, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal all to come, it could ultimately prove a step too far for the injury-hit squad.
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