Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa has spoken about taken on more leadership and his partnership with Pau Torres ahead of our clash with Zrinjski.
Villa will be looking to bounce back after we suffered defeat in our Europa Conference League opener, with Unai Emery expected to name a strong side to get us on track to advance beyond the group stage.
READ MORE: Villa team news vs Zrinjski: Diaby, Kamara, Jacob Ramsey updates
Konsa, 25, has played in every game so far this season as he continues to firmly establish himself as a fundamental piece in Emery’s plans, with his defensive impact and influence continuing to improve and grow.
Particularly in the absence of Tyrone Mings after his devastating injury blow in our first Premier League game of the season, it has added responsibility and pressure on Konsa to be a leader at the back in his absence, and he is continuing to show great maturity and quality in his performances.
On taking on more leadership in Villa defence
“I have always felt like I need to add more leadership to my game,” he told the media, as per VillaTV. “I have played alongside Tyrone for many years and I felt like he was the one that was the leader. I just used to basically go off him and use him as a guide. It’s unfortunate that he got his injury and we are all behind him, but I feel like it’s time for me to take on that responsibility and help the players that I am playing alongside.”
On partnership with Pau Torres
In the absence of Mings, it has given an opportunity for the partnership of Konsa and Pau Torres to flourish, and although the Spaniard has been questioned at times in terms of the physicality of the Premier League perhaps exploiting a weakness of his, as a pairing, they are starting to show really positive signs.
Having conceded just two goals in our last three league outings against Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Brighton, we’re hopefully now building a solid foundation at the back, and Konsa has revealed that he gets on well with Torres off the pitch too, which in turn helps strengthen their defensive partnership on it.
Both add technical quality to help us build out from the back with a patient and measured approach, as Emery wants, and so if they can complement each other well defensively to nullify the opposition’s attacking threat on a consistent basis, we’ll hopefully have a tight backline as a base, with Diego Carlos also vying for a starting berth.
“I think we are doing really well,” he added. “We have got a good understanding of each other even though we haven’t played that many games together. He’s a real quality player and he brings different things to the team. I know what I can bring to the team as well. We get on off the pitch as well which helps, so when we go into a game at the weekend we are in sync.
“It’s very important, especially for Pau, coming from Spain to a new league. It’s never easy and I try my best to help him every day on the pitch and on matchdays to try and speak to him. He speaks good English too which helps. We have a great understanding and long may that continue.”
On how far Jacob Ramsey can go
Meanwhile, although Emery ruled Jacob Ramsey out of our midweek European encounter due to injury, the Villa youngster was the subject of a number of questions directed at Konsa during his press conference.
Sharing the sentiments of many at the club, the Villa defender believes the 22-year-old can continue on his current trajectory and be a pivotal player for us moving forward.
Konsa has no concerns about Ramsey’s mentality or professionalism either, which is vital in order to make it at the very top, and so it’s hoped that once he puts his injury concerns behind him having struggled at the start of this season after initially picking up a problem over the summer, he can kick on and continue to take his game to the next level.
“I think JJ can be a top, top class player. We can see already what he can do. He scored at the weekend, he brings a lot to the team as well in terms of his energy and his technical ability. If he remains humble like he is and focuses on listening and learning to improve his game, then I feel like he will go all the way to the top.
“At the very top. 100 per cent. There’s a lot of great, young English talent, but JJ is right at the top for me. I feel like he is. He’s got quite a lot of experience now playing in the Premier League, that helps him a lot. His game has been consistent week in, week out. For me, I feel like his quality is there and he has everything he needs to have to take him to the top. It’s down to him really.”
