Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has said his side will not use injuries as an excuse ahead of their Champions League tie at home to Viking on Wednesday. Villa have had a difficult start to the season but have won four of their last five matches in all competitions.
Johan Manzambi’s first-half header gave Villa a 1-0 Premier League win at Newcastle on Saturday. The 21-year-old Switzerland international was substituted in the 72nd minute, and Emery said on Tuesday that he will play no part against Viking because of a “small injury”.
Villa’s injury list and Emery’s response
Manzambi joins defenders Matteo Ruggeri and Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the injury list. Emery said the club was accepting of the problems it had faced, pointing to Amadou Onana, who has been out for a long time, and Ruggeri, who had been unavailable for more or less two months.
Ian Maatsen has rejoined the squad and is training this week, Emery said. Wan-Bissaka is expected to be out for three or four weeks. “We have enough players, no excuses,” Emery said, adding that Villa would look for solutions in case they needed to raise their performance collectively and individually in each position.
Viking arrive at Villa Park after Bayern draw
Villa thrashed Fenerbahce 6-0 last week and will be looking for a third successive European win against Viking. The Norwegian side come to Villa Park after a 3-3 draw with German giants Bayern Munich last week, having lost to Stuttgart.
Emery described every team in the Champions League as dangerous because they have earned their place. He said Viking sit first and second in their league alongside Bodo/Glimt on the same points, and called them a new team capable of competing with Bayern and Stuttgart. “This is the Champions League and it is very difficult,” he said.
