Aston Villa dodge blow to Champions League hopes as Pau Torres update emerges at Villa Park
Aston Villa will have been disappointed to not maintain their recent winning run when they travelled to Amsterdam to face Ajax in the Europa Conference League
While Unai Emery’s side more than held their own with the Eredivisie giants as they drew 0-0 in their last-16 first-leg encounter on Thursday (7 March), it was a game of few chances that has left the tie evenly poised ahead of the return leg at Villa Park.
While most supporters would have been happy to take the tie back to the second leg, they would have been more concerned when they saw Pau Torres withdrawn at half-time, especially as the centre-back continues his recovery from injury.
With a crucial Premier League clash with Tottenham up next on Sunday (10 March) Emery will want all of his best players available and it would have been a huge blow to be without Torres given his impressive recent form.
However, the Villa boss has confirmed that the 27-year-old will be fully available for Sunday’s showdown with Ange Postecoglou’s side as his early substitution at the Johan Cruyff arena was pre-planned to manage his return.
As quoted by Birmingham Live on Friday (8 March) he said: “Tomorrow we will train for the last time in the week and we will wait for tomorrow. We trained this morning recovering with the players who played yesterday.
“Pau Torres and John McGinn, they will be available for Sunday.”
Can Pau Torres start for Aston Villa against Tottenham in the Premier League?
Torres may have only played 45 minutes in Amsterdam, but the 27-year-old once again showed why he is so crucial to Emery’s side at Villa Park as he was incredibly sharp in possession, completing 81 per cent of his 31 attempted passes, according to Fotmob.
The Spanish defender’s ability with the ball at his feet is what sets him apart from other players in the Premier League as he sits in the top four per cent of centre-backs for progressive dribbling distance per 90 minutes, according to Fbref.
When he does venture forward with the ball, it isn’t easy to get it away from him either. Torres places in the 96th percentile for successful take-ons per game, and his ability to maintain possession is crucial to Emery’s style.
In Villa’s first meeting with Spurs earlier this season, the Villans only had 38 per cent possession but managed to win 2-1 because they made sure that they were effective and quick on the rare occasion they got the ball.
Torres scored in that match, but also only misplaced seven passes and was successful with 100 per cent of his dribbles as he repeatedly broke through Tottenham’s press to kick start attacks.
So far this season, Villa have only lost two of the 17 Premier League games in which the 27-year-old has been named in the starting XI. If Emery’s side want to book their place in the top four this term, having Torres fit and available against Spurs could be crucial.
Whether he will be able to start the game remains to be seen, but is good to know that Torres didn’t suffer a new setback in the draw with Ajax.
In other Aston Villa news, Emery is understood to be ready to take Villa to the “next level” with new transfer plans at Villa Park
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