Aston Villa are struggling with a six-match winless streak as they prepare to face Juventus in the Champions League at home. Despite the rough patch, manager Unai Emery dismissed the idea that a packed schedule is the cause of their recent dip in performance.
Villa’s poor form has seen them exit the League Cup and drop to eighth in the Premier League standings. In the Champions League, they are also sitting in eighth place at the halfway point of the group stage.
With nine more matches to play before the new year, Villa are gearing up to face a Juventus side that is unbeaten in Serie A. The Italian team is just two points behind Villa in the Champions League standings, where the top eight teams advance to the knockout rounds.
Speaking ahead of the match, Emery reflected on last season’s packed schedule, where Villa managed to balance domestic and European commitments in the Conference League. “We want to play as many matches as possible and aim to compete until the last month of the season,” he said.
Emery highlighted the importance of the Champions League, calling it the “best competition in the world.” He emphasized the need for consistency in team preparation and building a solid squad. “Tomorrow’s game is crucial. Earning three points is vital, but even one point would help as we aim to stay in the top eight and reach the next round,” he added.
Juventus come into the match with the best defensive record in Serie A, making them a tough opponent. Emery praised their manager, Thiago Motta, for his approach to shaping the team.
“He was a competitive and intelligent player, and now he’s proving to be a successful coach. They are strong both with and without the ball and are working to dominate games while maintaining defensive solidity,” Emery said.
Villa face injury concerns but received some positive news with the return of Ezri Konsa and Boubacar Kamara for the game. However, Amadou Onana and Jacob Ramsey remain unavailable. Onana missed the recent 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace due to an injury, while Ramsey is still recovering from a knock sustained during their 2-0 loss to Liverpool before the international break.
The clash against Juventus provides Villa with an opportunity to regain momentum and solidify their position in the Champions League group stage.
