Ezri Konna says ‘crazy’ financial rules ‘killed’ Aston Villa in the transfer window.
The defender, in the England squad for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier at his Villa Park stomping ground, has echoed the cries of many of his club’s fans over the Premier League and UEFA’s controversial spending rules.
Following an underwhelming start to the season, in which Villa are yet to score or win a game, supporters rounded on the regulations which have prevented the club from spending big – despite having wealthy owners.
On deadline day, manager Unai Emery belatedly added much-needed reinforcements in the shape of loan deals for Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott and the free-transfer pick-up of Victor Lindelof.
But thanks to a three-year settlement with UEFA, enforced after falling foul of their regulations, Villa have to match any £100m in incoming transfers with £100m worth of outgoing sales.
And Konsa revealed that Proft and Sustainability Rules (PSR), which state clubs cannot lose more than £105m over a rolling three-year period, are the talk of the dressing room, as well as the terraces.
Ezri Konna says ‘crazy’ financial rules ‘killed’ Aston Villa in this summer’s transfer window
Vilal sold academy product jacob Ramsey to Newcastle for £39m to ease their financial woes
‘It’s crazy,’ he said. ‘I don’t understand it myself but from the outside looking in, it doesn’t look too good. I know that. I know it’s really killed us this transfer window. We’re going to have to deal with what we’ve got now. Like I say, we’ve a great squad, I believe in our squad. I believe in our manager. Hopefully the boys who have come in can really help us and push us on.’
Konsa disclosed that he swerved deadline day coverage on Monday. ‘I definitely didn’t watch that,’ he explained, with a smile. ‘It’s been tough, especially for us.
‘I knew that signing players was going to be difficult so I did not look at transfer deadline day. Later on, around 8 o’clock I went on Aston Villa Twitter to see what happened. I saw that we signed three players, who are really good and have Premier League experience. I think that’s what we needed as well.’
Villa have finished seventh, fourth and sixth in the last three seasons and progressed to the Champions League quarter-final last time out. Konsa says it is vital that they maintain that upward trajectory, despite the constraints which are now biting.
‘We want to stay up there,’ he said. We want to stay in the top six, top five and the aim for everyone is that we want to play Champions League football.
‘That’s what we’re going to try to do. I’ve been at Villa for seven years, I’ve been there at its worst times so I know how bad it can be. But look, we’re not there yet. It’s three games in.’
Konsa was shown a straight red after hauling down England team-mate Anthony Gordon in their opening day stalemate with Newcastle United – in front of Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel.
‘I didn’t want to see him but he was outside the door,’ he said. ‘He was laughing at me! There wasn’t much to say about that. It was a boring game anyway! He didn’t think anything of it. I was actually then sat next to him at the Brentford game so we managed to speak then. He was just focussed on the game. We only spoke at half-time. When we were watching the game he didn’t say one word.’
The defender is in the England squad for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier at his Villa Park stomping ground
The should-win match against minnows Andorra will be played out amid a backdrop of unrest and protest across the country, and Konsa sees it as an opportunity to unite.
‘We can bring people together,’ he said. ‘I saw it last year at the Euros. The penalties after Switzerland. Going on my phone after the game and seeing everyone coming together to support us. For me as footballers sometimes you don’t realise how much power we have over people. Definitely. When we play for our country and the pride and joy we bring to people is amazing. It’s truly wonderful to see.’
