Unai Emery’s side is preparing to face French side Lille in the Europa Conference League quarter-final tie. Lille has been given extra time to prepare for the match, with the French League changing their domestic schedule to allow them an extended break and time to focus on the European competition. Villa suffered a 4-0 defeat in the first leg and Emery emphasized the importance of not making excuses, stating that his team must be mentally focused on each match and competition.

He acknowledged the advantage of additional preparation time for Lille but did not view it as a significant factor, emphasizing the need for his team to accept and adapt to the situation. The French League stated that the progress of French clubs in Europe is a top priority and that all points scored are crucial for their coefficient. The league also mentioned offering special promotions and partnerships to their community members.

The rearrangement of the domestic games has caused some controversy and Villa is facing a tight schedule with a crucial match in the Premier League sandwiched between the two legs of the Europa Conference League tie. Despite the challenges, Emery emphasized the importance of accepting and adhering to the schedule and expressed confidence in his team’s ability to handle the demanding fixture list.