The Spaniard says he has ‘apologised’ to the midfielder over his situation.
Unai Emery says Harvey Elliott’s wasted season is “embarrassing” for everyone involved as Villa prepare to face the midfielder’s parent club Liverpool.
The Villa boss says he “apologises” to Elliott “every day in his mind” after a campaign which has seen the 23-year-old stuck largely on the sidelines.
Elliott has made just nine appearances since joining on a season-long loan from the Reds last September, playing only 109 minutes in the Premier League.
The former England under-21 has been left in limbo, due to a clause in his contract which stipulated Villa must sign him permanently for £30million once he had made a certain number of appearances.
Emery quickly decided he did not want to trigger the clause, with Villa then failing in efforts to persuade Liverpool to remove it from the deal.
Asked for his reflections during a press conference on Thursday, Emery said: “To now explain about the reason for this decision is very difficult, or it is easy, but it is not the moment.
“Of course, it is something embarrassing for everyone involved.
“My apologies for Harvey Elliott, is every day in my mind. But It is [about] responsibility. We have our responsibility and Liverpool have their responsibility.
“It is something, as a human and as a person, how the season has gone has been difficult.”
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