Unai Emery said he feels sorry for Harvey Elliott after dubbing the Liverpool midfielder’s dismal Aston Villa loan spell “embarrassing for everyone involved”.
Elliott moved to Villa Park on a season-long loan last summer but has been limited to 11 appearances in all competitions, with five in the Premier League totalling just 109 minutes.
The terms of his loan would have seen Villa obligated to make the move permanent had he made 10 league appearances.
They had looked to cancel the loan in January, but could not come to an agreement with Liverpool, per BBC Sport.
And Aston Villa head coach Emery has now sent his apologies to Elliott after an underwhelming loan spell which has disappointed all involved parties.
“To now explain about the reason for this decision is very difficult, or it is easy, but it is not the moment,” Emery said.
“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.”
Elliott featured more regularly in the early stages of the campaign, playing five times between August and early October and netting his only goal of the campaign so far in a Carabao Cup defeat by Brentford.
He will return to Liverpool this summer, though, with his transfer future now uncertain. The 23-year-old has a year left on his contract and may well look for a move this summer.
Speaking on the situation earlier today, Arne Slot said: “I think for him, everyone, [the loan] didn't work as out as we wanted it.
“Usually [clubs] sign a player or loan to use him, but that hasn't happened a lot.
“[It’s] not for me to answer why that it is, but it is never nice [to not play] many minutes. I assume he played more with us last season and he went there for more time.
“The plan for next season? He is contracted to us so he will be with us at the start of next season.”
