Unai Emery is wrestling with the worst injury crisis of his career as he tries to correct Aston Villa’s recent wobble without several key players.
Villa have lost Emiliano Buendia, Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara to anterior cruciate knee ligament (ACL) injuries this term, while Jacob Ramsey, Alex Moreno, Pau Torres, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne, Jhon Duran and now Diego Carlos have all spent time on the sidelines.
Kamara sustained his injury in the home defeat by Manchester United last weekend and will undergo surgery in Lyon, France, next week.
Emery did not use the casualty list as an excuse but admitted it was unprecedented in his 20 years in coaching.
‘I can never remember a time like this,’ he said. ‘It’s not an excuse. When injuries happen, I always accept it, but of course this is the worst. We are human and of course we are going to support the players, particularly with ACL injuries.
‘It’s the worst moment for them and their families. Every day it’s good for us to meet Tyrone, Emiliano and now Kamara. They are not available but the message is always that they will come back stronger than before.
‘I’ve never had this situation before as a coach. I know Real Madrid have had the same situation (with David Alaba, Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois) with ACL injuries.
‘But we have [to] accept it and keep going. We be positive, we work, and try to support the players who will have chances.
‘Maybe with some types of injuries, like hamstrings, there is work you can do in terms of injury prevention, but knee injuries are different. But these are not a consequence of our work. Tyrone was injured at Newcastle, Emiliano here at the training ground and Kamara at Villa Park.
‘I had this injury when I was 20 and it was difficult for my career, so I know how it is. There are risks involved in football.’
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