Aston Villa take on PSG in the UEFA Super Cup final in Salzburg tonight, and will be missing some key players from their lineup for the showpiece matchup between the Champions League and Europa League winners.
Villa will be without Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Emiliano Martínez, who have yet not rejoined the group after their World Cup exploits.
Players participating at the World Cup were granted a mandatory 21-day rest period after elimination from the tournament.
The England and Argentina internationals could theoretically have been involved in the Super Cup, but Villa boss Unai Emery revealed that he gave the trio an extra week off before returning.
He said on the eve of the game: “I gave them four weeks to rest, and it is completely necessary”. In truth, it was always unlikely they would feature in what is essentially an exhibition game, even if they had returned from their break as early as possible.
Emery’s preseasons can be gruelling, and Villa will have played eight games this summer by the time the Premier League season arrives.
It remains to be seen whether Watkins, Konsa and Martínez will feature in Saturday’s final preseason match against Borussia Mönchengladbach. There are only 11 days remaining until the domestic campaign gets underway, so time is running out to get the internationals reintegrated.
In terms of tonight’s game, Villa obviously have fewer options without three of their key players. Evann Guessand and Leon Bailey are also not with the squad as they look to finalise transfers elsewhere.
Young players Brian Madjo, Keba Cisse and Triston Rowe have travelled with the squad to Austria, despite not being named in the initial squad.
The absence of Watkins could present an opportunity for Brian Madjo, who has impressed in pre-season with four goals and recently declared eligible to play in competitive games after a successful Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) appeal.
Tammy Abraham is also available, so Emery will have a decision to make, and it would be a big statement if 17-year-old Madjo is handed the start over the more experienced option.
John McGinn trained on Tuesday ahead of the final after escaping what looked like a potentially scary injury versus BG Pathum United. Alejandro Garnacho also trained, having left that game after a nasty collision caused a facial injury.
Given the options at Emery’s disposal, the best team he could put out against PSG is likely: Marco Bizot, Matty Cash, Victor Lindelöf, Pau Torres, Ian Maatsen, Boubacar Kamara, João Gomes, John McGinn, Emiliano Buendía, Alejandro Garnacho and either Brian Madjo or Tammy Abraham.
If McGinn is not risked, Ross Barkley or Alysson would be the most logical alternatives.
It is not a star-studded lineup, particularly compared to the kind of team their illustrious opponents could field. However, Emery believes PSG are likely to be in the same boat as Villa with many of their top players potentially unavailable due to their involvement in the World Cup.
Regardless of the starting 11 Emery chooses, he will expect a certain level of competitiveness from his side, even if they are overmatched on paper.
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