Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Arsenal - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - August 24, 2024 Aston Villa manager Unai Emery reacts REUTERS/Peter Powell/File Photo
(Reuters) - Aston Villa's fixture schedule will be difficult to manage with the Premier League club set to play seven games in the next 22 days but the squad has the experience to deal with it, manager Unai Emery said on Friday.
Villa have a congested programme with the Premier League and League Cup plus the new-look Champions League as they mark their return to Europe's elite club competition after 41 years.
Emery stressed they have experience of such a packed schedule having taken part in the third-tier Europa Conference League last term but he hopes for fewer injuries this time.
"We have one year with this experience and we were playing more or less a similar (number of) matches. We're expecting to play minimum until January, it depends if we progress in the Champions League and even the Carabao (League) Cup and FA Cup," he told reporters.
Villa visit Young Boys in their Champions League opener in Bern on Tuesday and travel to third-tier Wycombe Wanderers in the League Cup third round on Sept. 24.
"Of course, it is difficult to manage it with many matches. The Champions League starts next week but we have experience. Last season was exciting, even with a lot of injuries. This year we have started with fewer injured players," Emery added.
"Last year we started with two big leg injuries from Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia, and hopefully this year we can keep the same process ... I will manage the matches, trying to focus each match with the players we have available and 100% to play."
Emery said forward Ollie Watkins and centre back Ezri Konsa will be available for Saturday's home game against Everton.
Watkins was withdrawn from the England squad for the Nations League fixtures due to fitness concerns while Konsa picked up an injury in the second half of their win over Finland on Tuesday.
"The players are coming back after they played with their national teams, they are in the squad. We don't have big issues after it," the 52-year-old manager said.
However, with Watkins and Jhon Duran both available, Emery is yet to decide on who will start up front.
"Jhon Duran is getting mature, he is getting confidence. Ollie Watkins, after his small problems and after he came trying to get fitness quick, progressively he is feeling better and they can play individually or they can play together," he added.
Villa are seventh with six points after three games while Everton are bottom of the standings without a point.
(Reporting by Suramya Kaushik in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)
