Ezri Konsa says Unai Emery’s ‘lazy’ criticism of Aston Villa is ‘fair’ but no need for ‘crisis meetings’ ahead of Bologna UEFA Europa League clash

Villa were looking for their first win of the season but couldn’t beat the newly-promoted side despite taking the lead and playing against 10 men for an hour.

“We were lazy sometimes in defence. When we conceded, we were lazy,” said Emery afterwards.

Konsa said in response: “It’s a fair comment.

“I think everyone has seen the picture, seen the goal. Here we pride ourselves in trying to play a high line. It is something the boss has instilled since he first came.

“We didn’t quite get it right. Things have not been good for us so far this season. But there are blips in the season and we are going through that now. Hopefully we can move on.

“When your manager doesn’t speak too well of you, it is not a good thing for you. It does bring a bit of fuel into you and you just want to play the next game as soon as possible, to prove everyone wrong. It starts from tomorrow.”

Asked whether Emery had been critical of the players in private, Konsa said: “No. The boss is not a big speaker. Sometimes he keeps himself to himself.

“As players, we have been in the game a long time and we know what we need to do. It is down to us at the end of the day. We are on the pitch, not the manager. We have to figure it out for ourselves as well.”

Villa have reached the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-finals and UEFA Champions League quarter-finals over the past two seasons.

Konsa says he still has faith in the squad despite their poor start to the season.

“I believe in our squad, I believe in the players that we have. We have a great squad,” he said.

“We just need that first win. We’re not worried as players. We’ve got a great squad and I know what we can do.”

Villa’s main struggle so far this season has been scoring goals.

They failed to score in their first four matches and overall have netted just two in six games.

Konsa, though, says talk of “crisis” meetings is premature.

“I don’t think we are at the stage where we need to have meetings. People will talk about crisis meetings and things like that but we have got a great captain in John McGinn, who really takes the lead in stuff like that.

“After the game, he said a few words to keep us going, to keep encouraging us. Look, we haven’t started the season well. We know that. But I’m sure it’s going to go well soon.

“It shows how far we have come over the last three years (that people have criticised Villa’s start to the season)”.

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