Ezri Konsa has revealed the touching relationship between Aston Villa and their most prominent supporter, Prince William, ahead of the club's pivotal Europa League final against Freiburg in Istanbul. The centre-back disclosed that the heir to the British throne has nicknamed him a "Rolls-Royce," a compliment that highlighted the royal's appreciation for his composed defensive style.
Since joining Villa, Konsa has witnessed Prince William's regular presence around the squad firsthand. "Ever since I joined, he has shown unreal support, coming into the changing room and showing us the utmost respect," the defender explained. While Konsa acknowledged uncertainty about the prince's tactical depth, the royal endorsement clearly resonated. "He has called me a 'Rolls-Royce' once. I'll take that. That got stuck in my head, and it's nice."
The Reality of Meeting Royalty
The gravity of interacting with the future king often strikes players only after they leave the stadium. Konsa described the peculiar sensation of these encounters: "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. Sometimes you get caught up in the moment, and you go home and think, flipping hell, I just shook his hand, and he knows my name and everything."
With Unai Emery's internationally diverse squad, not all players initially grasped the significance of their royal visitor. Konsa noted that some foreign teammates required a quick history lesson. "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," he said.
Historic Context
Prince William was born just weeks after Villa's famous 1982 European Cup triumph over Bayern Munich, yet he was only 13 when the club last won major silverware in 1996. The prince is expected to travel to Turkey for the final as Villa chase their first continental trophy in over 40 years. For a squad accustomed to Premier League pressure, the combination of royal support and European redemption represents an extraordinary moment in the club's modern history.
