Aston Villa coach Unai Emery faces the media during a press conference. — AFP

Aston Villa's six-match winless streak has put them in a challenging position ahead of their Champions League home game against Juventus. However, manager Unai Emery on Tuesday dismissed the notion that their packed schedule is to blame for their recent dip in form. Villa's winless run across all competitions has seen them exit the League Cup and slip to eighth in the Premier League standings. They also find themselves in the same position in the Champions League table at the midway point of the group stage.

With nine more games scheduled before the new year, Villa are set to face a Juventus side that remains unbeaten in Serie A and is just two points behind them in the Champions League, where the top eight teams automatically qualify for the knockout stages. "Last year, we gained experience from the Conference League, managing a heavy fixture list. We aim to play as many matches as possible and hope to continue until the final month of the season," Emery told reporters ahead of Wednesday's match.

"The Champions League is the pinnacle of competition. We are handling each game, maintaining consistency in our preparation and team-building philosophy. Tomorrow's match is crucial for three points, but even a draw would be beneficial as it keeps us in the top eight positions. Our goal is to advance to the next round, and a win tomorrow could potentially make us contenders." Juventus has been formidable in Serie A, boasting the best defensive record, and Emery commended Thiago Motta for his impact on the Italian side.

"He was highly competitive as a player, very intelligent, and a top performer. Physically and mentally, he was strong, and now as a coach, he is achieving success," Emery said. "I respect him as a person, a player, and now as a manager. They are solid defensively, both with and without the ball... They are constructing a team, striving for consistency, and dominating matches with their possession while maintaining strong defensive positioning." Villa is also managing injury concerns, with Ezri Konsa and Boubacar Kamara set to play, while Amadou Onana and Jacob Ramsey will miss out.

Onana was sidelined for the weekend's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace due to injury, and Ramsey is still recovering from a knock sustained in the 2-0 defeat by Liverpool before the international break.

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