Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has said that he has “had enough players to compete and be confident” after an injury to Tyrone Mings his options in the defense limited prior to Celtic's visit in the Champions League.
Mings had come into tears on Sunday during Villa's 1-1 draw with West Ham in the Premier League and is a doubt for the Scottish side visit to Villa Park in the last game of the first phase of the Champions League.
With Pau Torres already sidelined with a broken base and Diego Carlos who leave for Fenerbahce during the transfer window, Ezri Konsa is currently the only fit central back from Villa.
Emery, however, said that his team is strong enough to take on the challenge.
“If Mings is available, he will play. We have injured players, but this is something that everyone has,” Emery said.
“We had Carlos, he wanted to leave and he pushed us to leave him. Even we wanted to replace him, but we could not do it both at the same time.
“We had to accept it because the circumstances come that way. I believe we have the players we have in the team.
“We have enough players to compete and feel confident. Some versatile players have to feel confident when they play, for example on Sunday with Lucas Digne plays at Center-Back because he has a left foot for our structure.”
Villa, who were defeated by Monaco with 1-0 last week, will be desperate when they are ninth with 13 points from seven games and a victory can help them end in the top eight and immediately qualify for the last 16 .
Unai's update on Tyrone Mings: “It is not a big injury, but every day will be very important about how he could feel better or worse. We will train this afternoon and see how he feels.” pic.twitter.com/p5c9cnaom9
– Aston Villa (@AVFCofficial) January 28, 2025
Brendan Rodgers' Celtic is now 18th with 12 points.
“If we reach it, I naturally want to be in the top eight. If we have the chance, it's fantastic,” Emery said.
“Last week I was a bit pessimistic after the game against Monaco, but in general we do a fantastic way. It is not in our hands, but other teams have to win in case we win. ”
Celtic has only won one of their last 21 in the Champions League (D5 L15) and his Winless in 11 since the beating of Andershecht in September 2017.
Former Liverpool and Leicester City Baas Rodgers has won nine of his 19 career meetings with Aston Villa (D4 L6).
“Celtic is a very prestigious club that has won the Champions League. We are enthusiastic and motivated with our supporters to enjoy this way,” said the villa boss.
“I have played against them before in Champions League with other clubs and their supporters are going to bring an atmosphere in Villa Park.”
Comments