Unai Emery says Aston Villa can make ‘no excuses’ despite growing injury list

Aston Villa have been hit with several injury problems but boss Unai Emery is keen not to use them as an excuse ahead of their Champions League home tie against Viking on Wednesday.

Following a tough start to the season, Villa are now beginning to find their feet having won four out of their last five matches across all competitions. Their latest victory came away from home as Johan Manzambi’s 36th-minute header gave them a 1-0 Premier League win at Newcastle on Saturday. However, the 21-year-old Switzerland international was substituted in the 72nd minute after he picked up a knock and Emery says he will play no part against Viking with a “small injury”. Manzambi’s issue adds to a growing list in the medical room after it was confirmed defender Matteo Ruggeri is set to face a couple of months on the sidelines while Aaron Wan-Bissaka is out for three to four weeks. Emery said: “We are accepting of the injuries we had before. “So many players we had injured in our process here and now we’re still having some, like (Amadou) Onana for a long time, like Matteo for more or less two months. “Coming back and joining us is Ian Maatsen, he’s joined us and is training with us this week. “Manzambi has a small injury, he’s not available for tomorrow. “Aaron has an injury as well, more or less we expect three or four weeks. “We have enough players, no excuses, and tomorrow we’ll find solutions in case we need to get our performance, of course, collectively and individually in each position.” Villa thrashed Fenerbahce 6-0 last week and will be looking for another win when they host Norwegian side Viking. But they will also be full of confidence after they managed to draw 3-3 with German powerhouses Bayern Munich last week. Emery is looking for a third successive win in the competition but knows how “dangerous” the opposition will be. He added: “Champions League. Every team that plays Champions League because they deserve it, and they are dangerous. “Viking drew against Bayern Munich last week, they lost against Stuttgart. They are with Bodo/Glimt in the league first and second with the same points. “Viking are a new team as well with the capacity to draw with Bayern Munich and compete against Stuttgart and compete against us tomorrow. This is the Champions League and it is very difficult. “We have six points which is amazing but difficult. Europe is always very difficult. Each team is very respectful for us.”

Published: 20/10/2026 by Radio NewsHub