Ezri Konsa commented on the consistent progression at Aston Villa under Unai Emery.
Based in London in his youth, he spent two years at Charlton Athletic and a year at Brentford before moving to Aston Villa in 2019. He has seen the side go from fighting for survival after their promotion from the Championship to becoming one of the best teams in the Premier League.
That transition largely took place under Unai Emery, who replaced Steven Gerrard in November 2022. The Basque brought the Villans into the top seven by May 2023, and they have never failed to qualify for European football since. They also reached the FA Cup semi-final in the 2024/25 season.
Individual triumphs have accompanied collective revival. Konsa received his first England cap in March 2024, was a key part of the squad that reached the European Championships final in the summer, and he is set to be a starter for the Three Lions along with Marc Guehi in central defence.
‘We are trying to go a step further this season’
Konsa has a big few months ahead of him: Villa are fighting to stay in the top five and return to the Champions League while battling Bologna for a spot in the semifinal of the Europa League. The World Cup is on the horizon after the end of the club campaign, and the 28-year-old is ambitious.
“(I’m an) international player now, and since he’s come in, I’ve been able to change my game, adapt to the style that he’s wanted me to play, and I’ve really grown as a player. I’ve enjoyed every moment, enjoyed learning, enjoyed training, coming into training and trying to do something new.
“I think he’s been great, not just for me, but for the whole squad. We’ve got a lot more international players now, and that’s credit to him and his coaching staff, and what they’ve been able to achieve over the last three years at this amazing club. We are trying to go a step further this season, and where we are now just goes to show the work that he’s done has paid off.
“Before he came, I knew about Unai, his CV and the trophies he’s won, the clubs he’s worked for and the players he’s managed, so I think for me, it was really exciting to have him come through the doors, and be able to work with him and learn from him.”