Aston Villa head into their crucial Champions League clash against Celtic with defensive issues dominating the pre-match discussion. With Tyrone Mings racing against time to prove his fitness, Pau Torres already sidelined and Diego Carlos shipped out, Unai Emery faces a major selection headache at the back. Emery has hinted that Mings could play, but with reports elsewhere suggesting he is more likely to return in a week or two, the Villa boss could simply be keeping Celtic guessing as to his final team selection.
Speaking ahead of the game, Emery remained tight-lipped on his defensive setup, stating, “We’re going to train and we’re going to see how every player is feeling for the match tomorrow.”
Versatility is Key: Digne and Bogarde Options at Centre-Back
With Mings a doubt and Torres ruled out, Lucas Digne could again be called upon to fill in as a makeshift left-sided centre-back, as he did against West Ham. Emery believes the Frenchman has the attributes to step into the role, saying,“He’s an experienced player and he can feel confident playing as a centre-back in case we need him.”
While not a natural fit, Digne’s left foot plays an important role in Villa’s build-up play, something Emery values highly.
One natural centre-back option in the squad is Lamare Bogarde, who has impressed in training and could be given the opportunity, having played for Villa this season at right-back and in midfield.
“We have Lamare Bogarde in the squad,” said Emery. “He helped us a lot at the beginning of the season and he’s training and competing well every day in the training sessions. He’s another option we have.”
While still inexperienced at this level, Bogarde’s inclusion would not be a complete gamble given his game time earlier in the season.
Meanwhile, Sil Swinkels remains in the squad and a natural left-footer and featured for Villa in pre-season. It appears unlikely Emery would throw him into such a high-stakes fixture though.
“Sil is training with us but we are thinking to let him leave on loan,” reasoned the Villa boss. “I think he needs more experience, getting minutes, to be ready to play with us a match like in the Champions League.”
There’s also the option of pushing Boubacar Kamara back to centre-back, but Emery is unlikely to give-up on his vital midfield presense.
The reality is that Emery will likely have to choose between either Digne, Bogarde, or a last-minute return from a less than 100% fit Mings.
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Champions League Top Eight Hopes Still Alive
Despite the disappointment of the 1-0 loss to Monaco, Villa’s fate is not entirely out of their hands. If they beat Celtic and Atalanta fail to win away at Barcelona, Villa will secure their place in the Champions League’s top eight and bypass the play-off round.
Emery admitted he was pessimistic after the Monaco defeat but now believes Villa have a real chance.
“If we are reaching it, of course, I want to be in the top eight. If we have the opportunity, it’s fantastic,” he reflected. “Last week I was a little bit pessimistic after the match against Monaco, but overall we are doing a fantastic way. We are with 13 points and it’s not in our hands, but other teams have to win in case we are winning.”
With excitement building, despite earlier questioning the player’s mentality, Emery hopes his players will embrace the occasion and put in a performance worthy of securing qualification.
“We are excited and motivated. The players are showing us that they are enjoying the Champions League,” he concluded.
Whether Villa can rise to the occasion remains to be seen, but one thing is certain – Emery will need to find the right defensive formula to ensure Villa get over the line against Celtic.
Do that and the match certainly will be added to the pantheon of great European nights at Villa Park.
UTV