Aston Villa travels to Amsterdam today for the opening leg of their UEFA Conference League encounter with Ajax, marking the start of a crucial week for Unai Emery’s team, as they will host Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park on Sunday.
The return of Diego Carlos and Jhon Duran to training, following Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres, offers a boost to Aston Villa. This quartet’s availability could prompt Emery to adjust his defensive setup, considering giving Clement Lenglet a rest after his consistent appearances since the beginning of the year.
However, there’s a setback concerning midfielder Jacob Ramsey, who will be absent for the Ajax match according to Emery’s recent press conference. Although Emery confirmed it’s not a serious injury, Ramsey’s availability for the Tottenham game remains uncertain.
Ajax is grappling with injury concerns of their own, with Steven Bergwijn and Josip Sutalo ruled out and doubts surrounding Anton Gaaei and Steven Berghuis.
Given the tight schedule, Emery might opt for rotation in the starting lineup against Ajax, prioritizing squad freshness, especially with the looming clash against Tottenham. The upcoming fixture against Tottenham holds significant importance in the season, potentially narrowing the gap to just two points if Spurs secure an away win.
Injuries, particularly in defense, have plagued Aston Villa this season, leading to defensive vulnerabilities, notably in set-piece situations, a concern highlighted by former player Stephen Warnock.