Ezri Konsa has backed England to carry Aston Villa’s winning feeling into the World Cup and joked that Prince William could reward him with a knighthood if the tournament ends with an English title. The defender made the remark while reflecting on a season that already brought him his first trophy, the Europa League, and on a squad now trying to turn that success into something bigger.
Konsa did not sound like a player distracted by the moment. He said the Europa League win had left him hungry for more and believed the experience could help England by giving the team a sharper winning mentality. England, he said, have reached finals before and now want to go that extra step and get it over the line. That is why his joke about William carried a bit more edge than a throwaway line; it was tied to the idea that this squad is not just here to compete, but to finish.
William was in Istanbul to support Villa when they won the Europa League, and Konsa said the royal is on texting terms with him. He called those moments special, saying it takes him a while to process that William knows his name and has even referred to him as a Rolls Royce. For Villa, he said, the support meant a lot because the prince has backed the club for years and was there for one of its biggest nights.
The England camp has also had to deal with the kind of conditions that can become a talking point at this World Cup, but Konsa pushed back on the idea that heat will derail preparations. He said training this week has been good despite the weather, that most players are used to hot countries from pre-season or holidays, and that the climate will not be an issue. Music has even been part of the routine, with a physio running the playlist at training and on match days.
That confidence will be tested quickly. England have two friendlies left to build fitness and get the legs going again before their first game, and Konsa said he expects the squad to be fine by then. For him, the assignment is simple: turn a first trophy into the start of a habit, and make sure the next joke about a knighthood does not sound like one.
