MX23RW : Monday, March 10 15:11:35| >> :60:1132:1132:
[monks data]
Aston Villa logo
Premier League | Gameweek 26
Feb 22, 2025 at 5.30pm UK
Villa Park
Chelsea logo

Aston Villa
2 - 1
Chelsea

Asensio (57', 89')
McGinn (69')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Fernandez (9')
Fernandez (56'), Nkunku (72'), Caicedo (89')

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery delivers injury update, reacts to Champions League draw

Emery delivers Villa injury update, reacts to Champions League draw
© Imago
Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery delivers an injury update ahead of Saturday's Premier League fixture against Chelsea, as well as reacting to the club's Champions League last-16 draw.

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery has reiterated that the club will look to enjoy their time in the Champions League having learned of their last-16 opponents.

After finishing in the top eight of the League Phase, Villa earned automatic entry into the last 16 of the competition in their debut campaign.

On Friday morning, the Premier League outfit were paired with Club Brugge, the first leg taking place in Belgium before the reverse fixture being held at Villa Park a week later.

Villa are no strangers to Club Brugge having suffered a 1-0 defeat on away territory during the League Phase, a calamitous Tyrone Ming mistake proving pivotal on that occasion.

Despite the disappointment previously experienced against Nicky Hayen's side, Emery feels the tie could prove to be a blessing in disguise.

Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings looks on as Club Brugge's Hans Vanaken celebrates on November 6, 2024© Imago

"We have good information"

Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Emery said: "Happy we are in the last 16, and happy with the draw, but every team they are in the last 16 deserve to be there.

"Of course, we played against Brugge and we knew their capacity to compete like they are doing usually. They beat Atalanta as well.

"Losing there 1-0 is good information for us, how we have to compete, to respect, to prepare, to try to avoid the mistakes we made.

"But, really happy because we are going to enjoy this moment with our supporters, and we are going to compete when it's arriving. But, now we have to focus on Chelsea."

Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa pictured on December 21, 2024© Imago

Villa injury update ahead of Chelsea

Villa head into Saturday's clash with Chelsea still having to contend with a number of injury issues, yet Emery has hinted that Ezri Konsa may be in a position to return to the squad.

The Spaniard added: "He did the composition work with the players. I will test him and in case he is feeling good he will be in the squad. Konsa could be with us in the squad."

Emery confirmed that Ross Barkley, Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana would not be available for selection at a time when loanee Axel Disasi is unable to face his parent club.

Victory for Villa would take them within one point of their sixth-placed opponents in the Premier League table.

ID:566200:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect4960:
Written by
Darren Plant
No Data Analysis info

Click here for more stories about Unai Emery

Click here for more stories about Aston Villa

Game History

How you voted: Aston Villa vs Chelsea

Aston Villa
57.9%
Draw
22.5%
Chelsea
19.6%
240
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Unai Emery during his side's clash against Celtic on January 29, 2025
Read Next:
'Our most difficult match': Emery talks up Villa task of ousting Liverpool
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal281510352242855
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest28156745331251
4Chelsea28147753361749
5Manchester CityMan City28145953381547
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton28121064640646
7Aston Villa2912984145-445
8Bournemouth28128847341344
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2713594638844
10Fulham2811984138342
11Crystal Palace2810993633339
12Brentford28115124844438
13Tottenham HotspurSpurs281041455411434
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd2897123440-634
15Everton2871293135-433
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2796123247-1533
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2865173857-1923
18Ipswich TownIpswich2838172658-3217
19Leicester CityLeicester2845192562-3717
20Southampton2823232068-489


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!