Aston Villa must change their competition focus yet again as Unai Emery’s men play host to AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League this Sunday.
The Villans will be exhausted having gone the distance in the UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final but Emery is bound to use his no-excuse culture to fire up his squad ahead of another vital encounter.
Bournemouth, 13th in the Premier League standings and just two points outside the top half following three wins in their last five, will be full of confidence after a 2-2 draw against Manchester United last week. Andoni Iraola has the Cherries playing terrific football and their fresh legs could cause all sorts of problems for a fatigued Villa defence.
Emery is likely to rotate his lineup a little but there’s only so much he can do with several players out injured and others inexperienced. There’s no choice but to dig in at this crucial tail-end of the season, with fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur hot on the men in claret and blue’s tracks.
Including the benching of an underwhelming summer signing and the surprise inclusion of a physical and determined attacker, here’s the starting lineup we predict Emery will name at Villa Park.
1. GK - Emiliano Martinez
Martinez, Villa’s penalty shootout hero on Thursday, is in tremendous form. He truly is one of the world’s best – if not the very best.
2. RB - Ezri Konsa
Konsa will be knackered from so much football but his defensive interventions were vital to Villa making it to extra time in the first place.
3. CB - Diego Carlos
Carlos didn’t play any of the 120 minutes at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, making him one of the best rested for this weekend.
4. CB - Pau Torres
Pau, just like Konsa, will be fatigued but he’s proven his stamina in the past. The Spaniard has been an excellent signing.