Emery concerned by Aston Villa’s busy schedule

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery says he is concerned by the amount of games his side have in the next three weeks.

The Villans take on Everton at home in the Premier League on Saturday at the start of a run that will see them play six games in 19 days.

Emery’s men will also kick-off their Champions League campaign against Young Boys in the week before tackling a Midlands derby against Wolves a few days later.

They also face Bayern Munich and Manchester United in that run, which will prove to be difficult for Emery to manage.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, he said: “We have one year with this experience and we were playing more or less similar matches.

“We are expecting to play minimum until January, it depends if we progress in the Champions League and even the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup. Hopefully we can play more matches.

Emery: “This year hopefully we can keep the same process we are doing and not having injuries for a long time.”

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 13, 2024

“Of course it is difficult to manage it with a lot of matches. The Champions League starts next week but we have experience.

“Last season was very interesting, even with a lot of injuries. This year we have started with less injured players.

“Last year we started with two big leg injuries from Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia and hopefully this year we can keep the same process we are doing with less relevant injuries for a long time.

“I will manage the matches, trying to focus each match with the players we have available and 100% to play.”

Luckily for Emery, he was able to bolster his squad during the summer so there are suitable replacements for players who may need a rest during this run.

One of those players will be Ollie Watkins, who had a short break in the off-season due to England’s run to the final of Euro 2024.

And the former Sevilla boss says Jhon Duran is more than capable of putting in a shift up top when the Three Lions international needs a rest.

Emery added: “He is progressively getting better and he is in the squad and being in the squad [the] thinking tomorrow is that he will be available to play.

“I’m happy, I want it. I want our players competing, each one to increase and add quality for us.

“Of course they are two strikers in good form and last year they played together sometimes.

“Last year their connection wasn’t so good on the pitch. But Jhon Duran is getting mature, he is getting confidence.

“Ollie Watkins, after his small problems and after he came trying to get fitness quick, progressively he is feeling better and they can play individually or they can play together.

“Of course I want the best of them from here until the end of the season and I am happy it is those players in this form.”