Aston Villa played to a 2-2 draw against Chelsea at home on Saturday, with Unai Emery having to substitute both Emiliano Martínez and Youri Tielemans because of injuries.
The goalkeeper, who was treated for a thigh injury, didn’t return to the field after halftime, while the midfielder had to be replaced in the 27th minute.
Unai Emery has acknowledged the injuries to the two players and stressed that Aston Villa must cope with the situation.
According to Infobae, the Argentine international has undergone tests to determine the severity of his injury.
Reports suggest that the 31-year-old hasn’t suffered a tear but a strain in his thigh. Infobae further reports that the former Arsenal player will be sidelined for at least two weeks, indicating he won’t be available until Aston Villa’s match against Liverpool on May 13th.
Martínez’s team has indicated that he plans to be back for the second leg of the UEFA Conference League game against Olympiacos on May 9th. While his absence is a setback, it’s somewhat reassuring that it isn’t more serious.
At the same time, Belgian newspaper Het Belang van Limburg reports that Tielemans has a groin injury. The 26-year-old midfielder had scans on Sunday, which revealed no major damage. Although the injury seems relatively minor, it’s still not ideal for Emery and Aston Villa, who are aiming for a top-four finish this season.
Currently, Aston Villa are in fourth place, seven points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in fifth. However, Spurs have two games in hand, which could affect the final standings.
