Unai Emery Reflects on Leon Goretzka's Injury and Eyes Champions League Revival for Aston Villa

Unai Emery, the manager of Aston Villa, confronts a tough selection dilemma as his team prepares for an important Champions League match against Club Brugge. The Premier League club will miss Leon Goretzka due to injury, a setback that reduces options in midfield.

Goretzka’s Absence Hits Villa Hard

Emery has admitted that missing Leon Goretzka is a real challenge. The German midfielder, who joined Villa on a free transfer after a decorated spell at Bayern Munich, was expected to bring experience to a midfield reshaped over the summer. Unfortunately, Goretzka has been sidelined by a reaction to increased training intensity, postponing his debut for the club and forcing Emery to find alternatives during a rough patch in league form.

Addressing the media before their European outing, Emery said: "Goretzka’s issue is a bit frustrating, but we have players who can replace him. When he’s back, hopefully he can train and play consistently so we add his experience. He will help us across different competitions with the level he brings."

Goretzka Shares Personal Update

The midfielder explained on social media that his body struggled to adjust to the new training demands after limited game time at his previous club. He expects to be out for at least a month, meaning he won’t appear again until domestic games resume after the mid-September international break.

"Unfortunately, my body has reacted to the increased workload after my time away from the pitch. It's frustrating, but I need this short break now to come back at full strength. I’ll use the coming days, including the international break, to recover fully," Goretzka stated.

Champions League Offers New Hope

Aston Villa started the 2026-27 season poorly, securing only one draw and two losses in their first three Premier League matches. This slump contrasts sharply with the excitement at the end of last season.

Reflecting on the team's recent efforts and the need for a win, Emery commented: "In our last match, we showed some collective improvements. Our goal was to focus on the Premier League this season, and while we are progressing, results haven't matched that yet. Tomorrow is a fresh challenge, especially in Europe."

He added: "Being in the Champions League is fantastic. We earned it by finishing fourth in the league and winning in Europe. It's a new chapter, very different from before. When we began this project, our vision was high—perhaps even not expecting to be in Europe four years running, including twice in the Champions League."

Tough Test Awaits in Bruges

Aston Villa travel to Belgium facing Club Brugge, recalling their 1-0 loss to the same side in 2024’s competition. Emery must cope without both Goretzka and Johan Manzambi, who is also injured. However, Joao Gomes returns from suspension, offering some reinforcement.

The Belgian club arrives in strong form, having won four of their first five domestic games this season.

• Competition: Champions League
• Fixture: Club Brugge vs Aston Villa
• Date and Time: 8 September 2026, 18:45