Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa: ‘I couldn’t watch what happened on deadline day – my team has been killed’

Aston Villa and England defender Ezri Konsa is preparing for the Three Lions’ clash with Andorra at his home ground this weekend, but can’t escape his feelings on the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules

Ezri Konsa has admitted Aston Villa have been “killed” by the transfer window. Konsa even confessed that he could not even bear to watch deadline day unfold on television because he did not want to see the squad being ripped apart.

Villa were forced to sell homegrown prospect Jacob Ramsey for £50m to help balance the books to fall into line with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules along with UEFA’s even stricter squad cost ratios. They ended up bringing in Harvey Elliot and Jadon Sancho on season-long loan while Emiliano Martinez pushed to join Manchester United before ending up staying in what was a messy final few days of the window.

Villa boss Unai Emery’s problems have mounted up because of their nightmare start to the season as they have managed to take just one point from their opening three games but have yet to score a goal. Villa defender Konsa said: “Yeah, it is crazy. I don’t understand it myself but from the outside looking in, it doesn’t look too good. I know that. I know it’s really killed us this transfer window.

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“We’re going to have to deal with what we’ve got now. Like I say, we’ve a great squad, I believe in our squad. I believe in our manager. Hopefully the boys who have come in can really help us and push us on.”

Konsa then admitted he switched off when it came to any TV coverage of the transfer deadline day. He added: “I definitely didn’t watch that! Like you say, it’s been tough, especially for us. I knew that signing players was going to be difficult for us so I did not look at transfer deadline day.

“I was only focusing on Aston Villa and later on, around 8 o’clock I went on Aston Villa twitter to see what happened! I saw that we signed three players, who are really good and have Premier League experience. I think that’s what we needed as well.”

On the international front, the Villa star insists England’s players believe they can “bring the country together.”

England has been divided by rows over flags, the migrant crisis and it has created widespread debates in local communities. Three Lions defender Konsa says that football can unite people just as the England team did under former boss Gareth Southgate.

Konsa said: “Definitely. We can bring people together. I saw it last year at the Euros. The penalties after Switzerland. Going on my phone after the game and seeing everyone coming together to support us. For me, as footballers, sometimes you don’t realise how much power we have over people. Definitely.

“When we play for our country and the pride and joy we bring to people is amazing. It’s truly wonderful to see.

“I was with Gareth for a year and I saw how much he wants us to be a family and how much we were together, especially with the time we spent together at the Euros. And we’ve brought that with Thomas Tuchel. He is big on creating a little family here.”

Konsa will take particular pride in playing on Saturday as Villa Park will host the World Cup qualifier with Andorra. It also presents a chance for England to restore some pride after a lacklustre performance and laboured win against the minnows last June.

Konsa added: “It’s been my home for seven years so to play a game at Villa Park for England will be special. I hope it will be a good one! I’m sure it will be good. It didn’t really click over there. We got the win. Fans expect five or six but that’s not the way it is. A low block is tough to break down and these countries can defend.

“Getting the three points was the main thing. I understand the fans’ frustration. I think we were frustrated as players. Hopefully Saturday is a different game.”

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