Konsa vows to overturn Aston Villa's deficit at home and reach the Europa League final.

Aston Villa will host Nottingham Forest at Villa Park this Thursday for the crucial second leg of their Europa League semi-final.

Despite trailing 0-1 after the first leg, Aston Villa center-back Ezri Konsa displayed great confidence in a pre-match interview, stating that the team was ready for this special night.

Aston Villa's recent form has been inconsistent, with last week's defeat at the City Stadium marking their third consecutive loss in all competitions. However, Konsa emphasized that the team must look forward: "The beauty of football lies in its packed schedule. We must forget the past defeats and focus entirely on tomorrow. Today's training session was excellent, and everyone felt great."

Villa Park is undoubtedly the team's biggest source of confidence for a comeback. Under manager Unai Emery, Aston Villa have achieved nine consecutive home wins in European competitions here, and have maintained a perfect record at home in the Europa League this season.

Konsa said, "Playing in front of our own fans gives us a huge psychological advantage. We need to put pressure on our opponents from the first minute they step onto the pitch and force them into a passive position."

Facing the pressure of trailing by one goal, Konsa believes that composure is the key to advancing. Regarding recent defensive errors, Konsa admitted, "These do-or-die matches are indeed nerve-wracking, but my teammates and I must stay focused."

“We have a clear game plan, and all that’s left is to go out on the court and execute it perfectly. As long as we stay calm and enjoy the game, we have a chance to advance to the final.”

Image source: Internet/Aston Villa official website