Unai Emery met with the media on Friday afternoon ahead of Aston Villa's second game of the season against Brentford. The Villans are looking for their first win after a goalless draw to Newcastle last weekend. Emery discussed team news, Morgan Rogers and what supporters can expect in the remaining week of the transfer window.
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Team News
Ross Barkley and Andres Garcia are the only injuries for Villa's trip to the Gtech Community Stadium. Ezri Konsa is suspended for this match only, after his red card in the 66th minute against Newcastle. There is a question mark over who will replace Konsa with a number of options available.
"Tomorrow we have enough players. There are another three centre-backs - Tyrone Mings, Pau Torres and Lamare Bogarde. We are working with those three players, and tomorrow we will play."
This could hint at Emery potentially utilising a wing-back system to compensate for the lack of width Villa had in their opening fixture.
Morgan Rogers
Rogers picked up the PFA's Young Player of the Year award on Tuesday evening. Emery had this to say on the English talent.
"He is young, but he is mature. He is a player, his development is really being fantastic for him and for us, because his quality and his capacity to play and be versatile and getting numbers is very good.
"He is showing us as well he can lead playing, and he can lead even in the dressing room, the team.
"He is one of our better players we have (in) the squad we have now and, of course, he is very important.ā
Transfer Activity
Villa have managed to shift a lot of players of their books this summer, including Jacob Ramsey, Philippe Coutinho and Leander Dendoncker. Which has been crucial in order for them to comply with UEFA's SCR this year. They are still restricted financially so deals of Ā£20 million + will be unlikely however, they could enter the loan market with interest in Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson.
"Of course, we are involved in it, and the club is working hard to get our structure as strong as possible with the players in the squad, trying to get two players for each position. (There is ) still work to do, even leaving some more players, and we have to join us signings to complete the squad with some players.
"We are of course working, and we have some solutions as well to try to fix it, but we have to be alert, keep going, and of course, with the players we have enough to compete, but thinking all the season, we are going to face more than 50 matches hopefully.
"I think we have to get balance in the squad, adding more players in it."
There is likely to be at least two additions as attacking reinforcements are needed, but Emery has also expressed the need for defensive cover.
