Emery’s Rebuild Remains Frustrated With Goretzka’s Absence
“When you need an engine, trust German,” declared Aston Villa’s social media channels, announcing the signing of Leon Goretzka. Two weeks later, Villa supporters still haven’t seen him play a minute.
Goretzka issued a statement this week on his own social media explaining why.
“Unfortunately, my body has reacted to the increased workload after my time away from the pitch,” he claimed, suggesting that even German engineering can’t cope with Unai Emery’s intensive training regime.
Leon Goretzka’s Message to Fans
The German international midfielder won’t play again until after the international break, and Villa’s first game after that is the home fixture against Brentford on 10 October, over a month away. Goretzka’s message in full:
Dear Villans,
first of all, thank you for the incredible welcome. After my first few days at this club, the feeling that I'm exactly where I'm meant to be has grown stronger with each passing day.
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 and I'll be back ready to fight and give everything for you and for Villa. Can't wait to see you on the pitch soon.
Thank you for your support.
Leon
Leon Goretzka’s social media message
Unai Emery’s Stunted Rebuild Process
Unai Emery, speaking in his pre-Club Brugge press conference, stated Goretzka’s issue was a knee injury, before hinting at his frustration of not being able to utilise the midfielder yet.
“Goretzka’s injury and his issue is a little bit frustrating,” said Emery. “But we have players to replace him, like Ross Barkley, like João Gomes, Lamare Bogarde and [Boubacar] Kamara.
“When he’s coming back, hopefully he can get the consistency training and playing and we can add his experience because his experience is something we added when we signed him.
“He’s a player who will help us in different competitions with the level he has.”
Goretzka is not alone in putting a handbrake on Emery’s rebuild. Swiss timekeeping is supposedly just as reliable as German engineering, but Johan Manzambi is also still waiting for his Villa debut, having picked up a knee injury playing for Switzerland at this summer’s World Cup. He’s missed preseason and the start of the season. Alongside Goretzka, Manzambi is very much central to Villa’s new-look midfield engine. Neither of them has kicked a ball for the club yet.
Judging by recent seasons, you’d be forgiven for thinking Villa’s midfield was cursed. The third part of Emery’s midfield rebuild has been stalled too. João Gomes was sent off in the Brighton defeat on the opening weekend, and is serving a three-match Premier League ban as a result, with one more game left to serve. He is available for Villa’s Champions League op thoughener against Club Brugge though.
Unseen Villa Rebuild
At least Gomes has a start to his name this season. Outside of him, Zion Suzuki and Nicolas Jackson, none of Villa’s 10 summer signings have started a game for Villa yet. That list includes Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Matteo Ruggeri, Alejandro Garnacho, Ibrahim Mbaye, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Johan Manzambi and Leon Goretzka. Brian Madjo, whose Super Cup cameo announced him to the wider football world, is yet to be seen in the Premier League either.
None of that has stopped the less informed corners of punditry writing off Villa’s rebuild as a failure already, without grasping the obvious point: the heart of Emery’s new-look team hasn’t set foot on a Premier League pitch yet. Judging this Villa side now, before Emery has even had the chance to pick from the squad he built over the summer, is judging a team that no-one has seen yet.
Emery has more cards up his sleeve than he’s been able to play. Until he actually gets to play them, judging this rebuild one way or the other is premature.
UTV
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