Aston Villa chief reveals Ezri Konsa talks after defender's bust-up with fans
Villa vice-captain Ezri Konsa has been urged to keep his emotions in check after last week’s bust-up with supporters at Wolves.
The England international had to be restrained by security staff after becoming embroiled in a spat with a small group of visiting fans immediately following the 2-0 defeat.
Konsa was later spoken to by Villa’s director of football operations, Damian Vidagany, about the incident.
While the club acknowledge the 28-year-old should not have reacted in the manner he did, there is also an appreciation he was responding to insults shouted in his direction, by fans he had approached to applaud.
Konsa, who has been skippering the team in the absence of the injured John McGinn, has not been fined.
Boss Unai Emery deferred to Vidagany when asked about the incident on Tuesday.
Vidagany said: “We spoke with Ezri and we felt that the emotions were very sensitive on both sides.
“And we spoke with him to try to control the reactions.
“At the same time, I think that to insult or to have a bad reaction with a player is not something we should consider acceptable.
“So, the club talked to the player and I am sure that the fans also need to understand that the emotions of the players after a defeat are in a sensitive moment.
“Angriness was in the stands and in the dressing room, and at that moment, we needed to have calm minds, every one of us, to try to carry on and to get together.”
Emery added: “I spoke with him (Konsa) to lead the team defensively.”
Villa host Chelsea on Wednesday night, knowing a win would move them nine points clear of their rivals in the race for Champions League football.
