Unai Emery has revealed that Diego Carlos was injured in Aston Villa’s 2-1 comeback win over AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night. The Brazilian, who had scored his first goal for the club to tie the game, hobbled out late in the game and was replaced by fellow centre defender Pau Torres.
Carlos was outstanding on the night, holding the line wonderfully and making a couple of last-ditch tackles to stop Alkmaar on the counter-attack. The 30-year-old wasn’t hesitant to assert himself physically against AZ’s leading scorer, Evangelis Pavlidis, and was unfortunate to go off late in the game.
“He was telling us about a small problem, and we took him off,” Emery revealed in the post-match press conference. “I don’t have any additional information.” “It could be a minor injury, I don’t think it’s serious, but we have to check him,” Emery added.
Carlos will be hopeful that subsequent tests would establish it’s merely a knock based on Birmingham World player ratings. There is always the possibility that it will be more severe than anticipated, but an international break comes at an opportune moment in that regard.
Because their next game is only three days away, Villa may have to revert to their customary center-back partnership of Ezri Konsa and Pau. On Sunday, Emery’s team will face Fulham in the Premier League.
