Konsa Highlights Aston Villa's US Tour As Key Preparation For Premier League Campaign

Add as a preferred source on Google

Ezri Konsa feels optimistic about Aston Villa's readiness for the 2025-26 Premier League season after their pre-season tour in the United States. The team played three matches, starting with a draw against Eintracht Frankfurt. They then secured a 2-1 victory over St. Louis City SC in Missouri before facing Nashville SC.

In the match against Nashville SC, Aston Villa drew 2-2. Ollie Watkins scored first with a header from Lucas Digne's cross in the 18th minute. This was Watkins' third goal of the tour. Donyell Malen added another goal after an hour, and he also contributed three assists during the tour.

Despite their efforts, Villa conceded two goals to Matthew Corcoran and Sam Surridge, resulting in a draw at GEODIS Park. Their next challenge is against Roma on Wednesday, followed by games against Marseille and Villarreal on Saturday and Sunday. Konsa believes these matches have prepared them well for their Premier League opener against Newcastle United on August 16.

Konsa expressed satisfaction with the team's progress, stating, "It's been really good. Trips like this bring the boys together." He emphasised that playing against strong opponents helps them prepare for the league by treating these games as if they were Premier League matches.

The pre-season games allow Aston Villa to experiment with new strategies as directed by their manager, Unai Emery. Konsa highlighted that these matches are crucial for trying out different tactics before facing Newcastle United.

Unai Emery echoed Konsa's sentiments but clarified that he isn't finalising his starting line-up based on these pre-season games. He rotated 23 players during the match to blend youth with experience.

Emery's Approach to Player Rotation

"We're finishing our pre-season in the United States with the match we played," said Emery. His aim is to involve all available players and test various combinations without setting a fixed starting XI yet.

Emery's strategy focuses on integrating all players into different structures and combinations to enhance team cohesion before the official season begins.