IT'S TOUGH AT THE TOP

Konsa aiming to turn season around after an early reality check

- By John Cross

EZRI KONSA is the first to admit it has been a tough start to the season.

The Aston Villa defender was sent off in the opening game of the campaign in front of England head coach Thomas Tuchel, who ended up laughing at him in the tunnel.

Konsa, 27, has also seen his team pick up just one point from their opening three games of the season without scoring.

The glory days of last term, when Villa played in the Champions League — their first season among Europe’s elite since 1982-83 — suddenly seem like a long time ago.

Ironically, head coach Unai Emery appears to be paying a heavy price for guiding the club back into Europe, as they have had to sell players left, right and centre to comply with UEFA’s tough squad cost ratios.

The Premier ENGLAND

League’s Profit and ALBANIA

Sustainability Rules SERBIA

have only added LATVIA

to the financial ANDORRA

constraints.

Villa only just stayed up in Konsa’s first season of 2019-20, so he has seen both sides of the coin at the Birmingham club.