Ezri Konsa has delivered one of the most emotional and personal pre-final messages from any Villa player ahead of Wednesday’s Europa League showdown with Freiburg.
- Konsa has made 32 appearances across all three UEFA competitions under Emery over the past three seasons
- The 28-year-old captained Villa in three Europa League victories this season, including wins over Basel and Lille
- He scored in both legs of the quarter-final victory over Bologna
- Konsa has been at the club since joining from Brentford in 2019, seven years of commitment leading to this moment
“Words can’t describe how amazing this feels”
Ezri Konsa has been one of the most consistent and important players in Aston Villa’s entire European journey under Emery. He has captained the side on three separate occasions this season, leading Villa to victories over Maccabi Tel Aviv, FC Basel, and LOSC Lille.
He scored in both legs of the Bologna quarter-final victory. And across three consecutive European campaigns, he has accumulated 32 UEFA appearances, more than almost any outfield player in the squad.
But when Konsa spoke ahead of Wednesday’s final, the statistics were entirely secondary to something more personal and more powerful. “It’s a special moment,” he told the media.
“I’ve been here a while, been through a lot of ups and downs. But for everyone involved with the club, the last three and a half years have been incredible. To make it into the final this season, words can’t describe how amazing that feels. Not just for me, but for the fans who have been following us for the time I’ve been here.”
That specific acknowledgement of the supporters, their non-stop backing, their European travel, their unwavering loyalty through every difficult moment, reflects the deep connection Konsa has developed with the Villa fanbase across seven years at the club. He is not simply a player performing for a club. He is a member of a community that has shared every step of this remarkable journey.
“Conference League, Champions League, Europa League Final”. The journey in full
Konsa’s reflection on Villa’s three-season European trajectory was one of the most concise and emotionally resonant summaries of the entire Emery era. Each campaign has pushed further than the last and each near-miss has sharpened the hunger for what comes next.
“Our first season in the Conference League with the boss, we got to the semi-finals; it didn’t go our way,” he recalled. “Last season, getting to the quarter-finals of the Champions League; we didn’t quite do it again. This season we’ve managed to go past the quarter-final and semi-final stage and now we’re in the final.”
That simple, chronological progression: Conference League semi-final, Champions League quarter-final, Europa League final, captures the incremental growth that Emery has delivered with methodical precision.
The Conference League exit to Olympiacos in 2024 hurt deeply. The FA Cup semi-final defeat to Crystal Palace last season was even more painful. Those scars, acknowledged honestly by Konsa, have not broken this group. They have hardened it.
“The only thing on our minds is to go out there on Wednesday and win it.” There is no ambiguity in that statement. No caveats. No qualifications. Just the clarity of a player who knows exactly what this moment demands.
“It would mean the world to me” – Konsa’s personal mission
The most powerful and personal element of Konsa’s pre-final message concerned what Wednesday’s result would mean to him individually, as a player who joined Villa from Brentford in 2019 and has witnessed every step of the club’s transformation from relegation battlers to European finalists.
“It would mean the world to me,” he stated simply. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do ever since I joined this club to bring some silverware home. I’ve got the opportunity to do that on Wednesday.” Seven years. One Europa League final. One chance to deliver what he has wanted since the day he arrived. The simplicity and honesty of that statement makes it more compelling than any elaborate rhetoric could.
His message to the travelling supporters was equally direct and heartfelt. “They’ve been non-stop supporting, travelling everywhere and I really hope we can bring this home.” Ten thousand Villa fans in Istanbul deserve that reward. Konsa is determined to deliver it.
ReadAstonVilla Verdict
Konsa’s words capture everything that makes this final so significant beyond the football itself. He is not a superstar. He is not a player who will dominate tomorrow’s back pages. There is something more valuable: a loyal, committed, and deeply connected member of a club community that has earned the right to celebrate.
If Villa lift that trophy on Wednesday, Konsa’s contribution, across seven years, three European campaigns, and 32 UEFA appearances, will be as important as any individual moment of brilliance. Bring it home, Ezri.
