Emery frustrated by three-week gap before Tottenham trip

Unai Emery has described the impending international break as 'crazy', warning that the three-week gap in fixtures could hinder Aston Villa's progress and slow Johan Manzambi's settling-in period. Villa travel to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday lunchtime still searching for their first Premier League victory of the campaign, after which competitive football pauses until early October.

Speaking ahead of the trip to north London, Emery told Birmingham Live he dislikes having such a long stretch without matches. The manager stressed that while the club will not use the schedule as an excuse, the timing is far from ideal for a squad attempting to build rhythm.

Manzambi, who arrived from SC Freiburg in July for a reported £52 million, is the primary concern. The Swiss forward joined with a knee problem and only made his debut during last weekend's 1-2 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, before coming off the bench in Wednesday's 3-1 Carabao Cup win at Coventry City.

With Switzerland due to play four UEFA Nations League fixtures over the coming weeks, Manzambi faces an immediate spell away from Bodymoor Heath just as he was beginning to train fully with his new team-mates. Emery suggested that returning to club duties after international duty risks leaving the player's understanding of Villa's structure confused.

The head coach insisted the remaining players would continue working through the hiatus. He underlined that Saturday's match remains the immediate priority as Villa look to add to the single point they have gathered from their opening three league outings.