Ezri Konsa uncomfortable verdict shared as Aston Villa decision made by Unai Emery
We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park…
Alan Hutton has defended Unai Emery’s decision to play Ezri Konsa at right-back against Tottenham even though the Aston Villa centre-back looked a bit out of place.
Konsa, 26, was put on the right-hand side of Emery’s defence for the 2-1 win in North London. He has played there several times this season, mainly in the Europa Conference League.
However, there were times were he did look a little bit out of place against Spurs’ pacey attackers.
Matty Cash started the game ahead of him before he was substituted off at half-time and Hutton believes the Poland international is a good option to help protect Konsa when needed, even though he can look out of place while playing out of position.
“Emery’s done it before where he’s played Konsa at right-back and Cash in front of him,” Hutton told Villa News.
“It’s probably to make a more defensively sound block even though they play such a high line.
“Cash was a winger at times and he can do it defensively to get back.
“I think when you put centre-halves out there [at full-back], they can look a bit cumbersome at times because they don’t give you that same feeling of being able to get forward. But I don’t think that’s what Konsa was there for.
“As I said, he has done it before so he must believe it works. At the end of the day they won so it’s one of them.”
In other Aston Villa news, it is “done” for this central midfielder to quit Villa Park with a permanent transfer deal already agreed.