Monchi’s transfer remit is clear after Aston Villa problem exposed

Monchi’s transfer remit is clear after Aston Villa problem exposed

Unai Emery couldn’t disagree with Roberto De Zerbi following Aston Villa’s 1-0 loss to Brighton at the Amex.

“Perhaps, maybe,” Emery responded to De Zerbi’s observation that Villa was lanky and exhausted on Sunday afternoon.

In his post-match press conference, the Brighton manager insisted:

“We played a fantastic game against one of the best teams in the Premier League.” To be honest,

Villa were not their typical selves. I assumed they were tired. They have many injuries.”

It was Villa’s 53rd game of the season, so it should come as no surprise that

Emery’s players have failed to recreate their swashbuckling displays from earlier in the season in recent weeks.

And this isn’t a critique.In fact, it’s astonishing that Villa have maintained their consistency throughout the season,

and with two games remaining, a top-four finish is within reach.

Emery’s work was made even more tough by injuries during the club’s first season back in Europe in quite some time.

Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia, who started all but one of Emery’s 25 league games last season,

suffered ACL injuries in August. Boubacar Kamara became the third Villa star to suffer knee ligament damage in January,

and he will be out until at least September.

Jacob Ramsey was another vital member in Villa’s recovery under Emery last season,

but he has only started eight league games this season and will miss the remainder owing to a foot injury.

The 22-year-old’s problems began before preseason even began,

and Alex Moreno missed the club’s preparations for the season due to a hamstring injury incurred in May.

Pau Torres, Youri Tielemans, Diego Carlos, Lucas Digne,

Matty Cash, Jhon Duran, and Tim Iroegbunam have all missed at least four league games this season due to injury.

Given this, it was always likely that Villa would run out of gas in the season’s final few games.

A win over Liverpool next Monday will secure Champions League qualifying before the last day against Crystal Palace,

should Spurs lose at home to Burnley or Manchester City. Whether Villa win the Champions League or fall into the Europa League,

they will play an additional two games in the new UEFA ‘league system‘, which will replace the group stage starting next season.

It is critical that Villa use the summer transfer window to strengthen Emery’s team and support the players who have demonstrated their capacity to compete at the top of the league over the past 18 months. Of course, quality is essential, but depth will be critical as Villa navigate another European and league season where the likes of Chelsea and Newcastle will surely enjoy better early season form than this.

Emery does not need big names or a great cash to develop the first-team squad; the addition of Morgan Rogers is an example. The former Manchester City player, who joined for barely £8 million, will grow even more over the coming year.

Spending the summer transfer cash across multiple roles in the squad and adding the appropriate individuals to contend for starting positions will allow Emery to distribute the load. That will minimise Villa’s chances of another injury-plagued season, which Emery has handled admirably. With additional depth in the squad, Villa may have scored even more points this season.

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