October 6, 2024

Villa are two games into their Europa Conference League group stage campaign with one win and one defeat after easily qualifying against Hibernian.

Emery made wholesale changes for the trip to Legia Warsaw on September 21, which resulted in a 3-2 setback in Poland. On 5 October, he made significant changes against Croatian minnows Zrinjski, and it required a 95th-minute goal by John McGinn to win the game 1-0.

Calum Chambers, Diego Carlos, Clement Lenglet, Youri Tielemans, Leander Dendoncker and Jhon Duran are among the players brought in for both of those matches while the likes of Ollie Watkins, Moussa Diaby, Douglas Luiz, Boubacar Kamara and Pau Torres were rested.

Hutton believes Villa should still win their Conference League group but he admits the number of changes is causing disruption to the team’s momentum.

“They can compete, it’s just a matter of getting used to it,” Hutton said to Villa News.

“Unai Emery makes various adjustments, which irritates the team. However, they should have won the game against Zrinjski the other night.

Emi Martinez makes two good saves but Villa should have scored five if they had their shooting boots on and then John McGinn pops up at the end.

All the teams have got three points after two games so I don’t think it’s a problem and I still feel it’s a group Villa will top.

I don’t see it being a problem, it’s just about getting the right mix with the team.”

After the international break, Villa welcome reigning Conference League champions West Ham to Villa Park in the Premier League on Sunday 22 October before travelling to the Netherlands to play AZ Alkmaar on Thursday 26 October. On paper, that’s the toughest match of the group.

In other Aston Villa news, Louie Barry could be fighting for his future at Villa Park as his latest deal may be terminated early.

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