Aston Villa centre-back Ezri Konsa is considered one of the club's finest defenders in modern times, but he might be the only one to have received royal approval. The 26-year-old hopes to help deliver Villa's first major trophy since 1996 when they face Freiburg in the Europa League final on Wednesday.
However, Konsa holds an accolade few footballers earn: the Prince of Wales is a fan. Prince William, a devoted Villa supporter, will be watching closely as Unai Emery's team takes on the Bundesliga side in Istanbul.
'He called me a Rolls Royce once,' Konsa said with a smile. 'That certainly stuck in my head. I'll take that.'
'Ever since I joined in 2019, he has shown unreal support, coming into the changing room and showing us the utmost respect. Massive credit to him to come and watch us and support us. Having his support is brilliant, not just for the club but for the players as well.'
Victory against Freiburg would mark Villa's first European trophy since lifting the European Cup in 1982. Konsa added: 'Some of the players didn't know who he was beforehand, as they are from different countries, so for them to learn about him and know who he is, it is big. Hopefully, he will be there on Wednesday.'
'It's weird because on game day, when he comes in, you focus on the game and you're in the moment, and you don't realise how big it is that he is coming in to greet everyone and shake his hand. Sometimes you get caught up in the moment, and you go home and think, 'Flippin' heck, I just shook his hand, and he knows my name and everything'.'
Villa's win over Liverpool last Friday guarantees a top-five league finish and Champions League football next season. Now they can focus entirely on winning a first European trophy since 1982. Should they prevail, it would be Emery's fifth Europa League title, having won three with Sevilla from 2014-16 and one with Villarreal in 2021.
Konsa added: 'The first thing he wanted to do was to get Aston Villa back in European football—he did that. You believe him because of his career and the trophies that he has won, also the teams he has managed and players he has worked with. You have no choice but to believe in him and put your all into what he is telling us. He knows the competition well and has won it four times. When you have a manager like Unai, who knows the tournament well, it gives you more confidence 100 per cent.'
