The victory at St James' Park was secured by a first-half header from Johan Manzambi, but the 21-year-old Switzerland international will be unavailable for the upcoming European fixture. Emery confirmed on Tuesday that Manzambi picked up a minor injury during the match and was forced off in the 72nd minute, ruling him out of the midweek encounter.
Managing a depleted squad
The absence of Manzambi adds to a growing list of sidelined players at Villa Park. The manager confirmed that defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka is expected to be out for three to four weeks, while Matteo Ruggeri remains a long-term absentee, with an expected recovery timeline of approximately two months. Additionally, Amadou Onana continues his extended spell on the sidelines.
Despite these setbacks, Emery remains confident in the depth of his squad. He noted that Ian Maatsen has returned to training this week, providing a timely boost to the group. Addressing the media during his pre-match press conference, the Spaniard emphasized that the team must focus on finding collective and individual solutions to maintain their performance levels, regardless of who is available for selection.
Preparing for a dangerous Viking side
Villa head into the match following a dominant 6-0 thrashing of Fenerbahce in their previous European outing. However, Emery is wary of the threat posed by their Norwegian opponents, who arrive in England with significant momentum after holding Bayern Munich to a 3-3 draw last week.
Emery highlighted the quality of the opposition, noting that Viking are currently competing at the top of their domestic league alongside Bodo/Glimt. While Viking also suffered a defeat against Stuttgart, the manager stressed that their ability to challenge elite European opposition makes them a dangerous prospect. As Villa look to secure a third consecutive win in the competition, Emery maintains that the nature of the Champions League ensures that every match remains a difficult test.
