Defender explains why it is too early for 'crisis meetings' at Aston Villa

The defender believes the team had no choice but to accept the criticism aimed their way by the boss after Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Sunderland.

But he claimed Emery’s stinging rebuke had given them even more motivation to turn round their form, starting with Thursday’s Europa League opener against Bologna.

Emery hit out and branded his players “lazy” after Villa, playing against 10-men, blew the chance to claim their first win of the season when they switched off for Wilson Isidor’s equaliser.

Asked whether the manager had been fair in his assessment, Konsa replied: “Yeah, it’s a fair comment. I think everyone has seen the picture, seen the goal. 

“Here we pride ourselves in trying to play a high line, it is something the boss has instilled since he first came. 

“We didn’t quite get it right. Things have not been good for us so far this season. But there are blips in the season and we are going through that now. Hopefully we can move on.”

Konsa revealed Emery had not used the same words when addressing the players as he continued: “The boss is not a big speaker. Sometimes he keeps himself to himself. 

“As players, we have been in the game a long time and we know what we need to do. It is down to us at the end of the day. We are on the pitch, not the manager. We have to figure it out for ourselves as well.

“When your manager doesn’t speak too well of you it is not a good thing. 

“It does bring a bit of fuel into you and you just want to play the next game as soon as possible, to prove everyone wrong. It starts on Thursday.”

Konsa is one of the club’s longest-serving players and while he acknowledged performances have so far been a long way short of what is expected, he is confident it will only take one result to turn things around.

Asked how the players had addressed the Sunderland draw and Emery’s comments, he replied: “I don’t think we are at the stage where we need to have meetings. 

“People will talk about crisis meetings and things like that but we have got a great captain in John McGinn, who really takes the lead in stuff like that. 

“After the game, he said a few words to keep us going, to keep encouraging us. 

“Look, we haven’t started the season well. We know that. But I’m sure it’s going to go well soon. 

“I’m not worried. I’m sure the boys ain’t worried as well. We have got a great squad.  

“I know what we are capable of. It’s just about getting that bit in the final third, getting that first goal and once we get that, we will fly from there.”

Konsa continued: “The standards which have been set here are really high – when we are getting criticised from the outside, I think that’s normal. 

“It happens to the best of teams when things ain’t going well. It’s happening to us. It’s on ourselves to try and get that first win.”