Aston Villa’s starting XI for their clash with Tottenham is set to be reviewed by the Premier League after widespread criticism from supporters who felt the team was deliberately weakened ahead of their Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest.
Unai Emery made seven changes from the side that lost 1-0 at the City Ground in the first leg. The rotated team took on Spurs at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon but slipped to a 2-1 defeat, looking second-best throughout as Roberto De Zerbi’s side climbed out of the relegation zone into 17th place.
Fans from several Premier League clubs – particularly those of fellow relegation contenders West Ham – voiced frustration online, claiming Emery’s selection raised concerns about the integrity of the competition.
With Champions League qualification all but secured as Villa sit comfortably in fifth, it is clear that Thursday’s decisive Europa League showdown with Forest is Emery’s main focus.
Despite the rotation, the Premier League still monitors team selections. While rules were relaxed in 2010 following the introduction of 25-man squads, clubs are still expected to name competitive line-ups and avoid fielding too many academy players from outside their registered squad.
Comparison of Villa’s Starting XIs
| vs Nottingham Forest (1st leg) | vs Tottenham |
|---|---|
| Emi Martinez | Emi Martinez |
| Matty Cash | Matty Cash |
| Ezri Konsa | Victor Lindelöf |
| Pau Torres | Tyrone Mings |
| Lucas Digne | Ian Maatsen |
| Amadou Onana | Lamare Bogarde |
| Youri Tielemans | Youri Tielemans |
| John McGinn | Jadon Sancho |
| Morgan Rogers | Ross Barkley |
| Emi Buendía | Morgan Rogers |
| Ollie Watkins | Tammy Abraham |
Keith Hackett has confirmed that the Premier League will look into Villa’s selection, though current regulations mean that clubs are generally free to choose any player from their official squad list as long as the integrity of the competition is maintained.
