Aston Villa’s recent struggles were evident in their 3-1 FA Cup replay loss to Chelsea, highlighting defensive frailties that have plagued them in recent outings.
With just one win in their last five matches, Aston Villa’s form is cause for concern. Despite a commanding 5-0 victory over Sheffield United, the absence of key defenders Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa poses a significant challenge for manager Unai Emery.
As they brace for a tough clash against Manchester United, Aston Villa will be banking on upcoming fixtures against Fulham, Nottingham Forest, and Luton Town to bolster their points tally. Emery remains hopeful of reinforcements as they push for a top-four finish.
The potential return of Lucas Digne offers a glimmer of hope for Villa’s defensive woes, with Emery noting the left-back’s progress in recovering from a thigh injury sustained against Manchester United on Boxing Day.
The absence of Konsa was felt keenly in the defeat to Chelsea, exposing vulnerabilities in the backline. While Pau Torres returned to the bench, Emery faces a challenging task in reshuffling his defensive lineup.
Konsa’s injury setback, sustained in the clash with Sheffield United, is set to sideline him for up to a month, further depleting Villa’s defensive options.
Adding to Emery’s woes, Jhon Duran’s hamstring injury, suffered in January, leaves him sidelined for the foreseeable future, ruling out any transfer speculation linking him with Chelsea.
Long-term absentees Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia cast doubt on their return this season, with Mings recovering from knee surgery and Buendia facing a lengthy rehabilitation from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
