Aston Villa are ready for their Europa Conference League quarter-final clash with LOSC Lille this evening, with Unai Emery having a decision to make over one star who has been dubbed ‘underappreciated’.
Unai Emery will hope that his side can build on their impressive performance against Arsenal when up against LOSC Lille tonight, as Aston Villa prepare for the Europa Conference League quarter-final second leg.
The Villans must replicate their structured display against the Gunners in order to reach the last four of the Conference League, with Lille’s home form something to be wary of going into tonight’s fixture.
Fortunately, the Midlands club carry with them a one-goal lead in the tie thanks to goals from Ollie Watkins and John McGinn in the first leg at Villa Park, with everything to play for this evening.
Despite the level of performance that the squad put in against Arsenal, Emery could still have some decisions to make when it comes to the team he selects to start in France.
Unai Emery told Matty Cash is ‘underappreciated’ ahead of Lille clash
While the most obvious switch for the manager to make to the starting XI that battled at the Emirates is the return of Douglas Luiz, who is suspended in the Premier League, there could be a debate to be had about who starts at right-back.
Now that Matty Cash is back in contention to start after sustaining a hamstring injury on international duty, Emery could be tempted to start the 26-year-old, with journalist Jacob Tanswell speaking highly of the defender in the build-up to tonight’s game.
Speaking on the 1874 podcast, The Athletic journalist dubbed Cash ‘underappreciated’ after witnessing Villa’s frailties in his absence.
“When he’s [Cash] not there, you realise how underappreciated [he is] and what a real out-and-out right back can do for this Villa side.”
Tanswell’s comments are fair considering the influence that Emery encourages his full-backs to have in the final third, with Ezri Konsa not providing the edge that the Poland international is capable of at times.
Unai Emery could be tempted to unleash Matty Cash against Lille
It’s clear that the boss favours playing Konsa at right-back over Cash, which has been a concern in recent weeks as the Englishman’s frailties in the position have been exposed.
As covered yesterday, Gary Neville highlighted a number of worries that he had for Konsa against Arsenal, a theme that has been evident in games prior as a result of Cash’s absence – read more here.
While the former Nottingham Forest defender has had some low points at Villa this season, there is no debate to be had over his status as the squad’s best right-sided defender, being well-equipped to play the role of a traditional fullback.
Some of the shortfallings of Konsa have made Cash’s presence at Villa feel ‘underappreciated’ at times, to echo Tanswell, with there certainly an opportunity there for the 26-year-old to make an impact tonight.
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