[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"football-site-config":3,"world-cup-status-en":27,"news-detail-konsa-prince-william-called-me-rolls-royce-ahead-of-final":43,"news-related-konsa-prince-william-called-me-rolls-royce-ahead-of-final-en":80,"news-related-match-konsa-prince-william-called-me-rolls-royce-ahead-of-final-en":207},{"adSlots":4,"affiliateMode":5,"brandName":6,"contentStrategy":7,"currency":8,"friendLinks":9,"homepageLayoutKey":10,"leagueFocus":11,"locale":12,"planVisibility":13,"seoDescription":14,"seoTitleTemplate":15,"siteCode":10,"siteName":6,"siteType":10,"subscriptionMode":5,"timezone":16,"id":17,"tenantID":18,"primaryDomain":19,"countryCode":20,"logoUrl":21,"faviconUrl":21,"theme":22,"seoKeywords":24,"status":25,"ads":4,"focusLeagues":26,"affiliatePolicies":26},[],"shared","Football Prediction Platform","scores_predictions","USD",[],"main",[],"en-US",[],"Football fixtures, results, free predictions, subscriptions, and clearly labeled partner links.","{page} | Football Prediction Platform","America\u002FNew_York",323900000000000000,1,"football.easytestdev.online","US","",{"primaryColor":23},"#1677ff","football predictions, football fixtures, football results","active",null,{"active":28,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"leagueImagePath":31,"seasonId":32,"seasonName":33,"startingAt":34,"endingAt":35,"daysToStart":36,"daysToEnd":37,"phase":38,"includeQualifying":28,"hostCities":39},true,"326135624916537344","World Cup","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fleagues\u002F1.png","326255613308833792","2026\u002F2027","2026-06-11","2026-06-28",5,22,"upcoming",[40,41,42],"Mexico City","Monterrey","Zapopan",{"article":44},{"awayTeamId":45,"awayTeamName":46,"body":47,"category":48,"excerpt":49,"homeTeamId":50,"homeTeamName":51,"id":52,"leagueId":53,"leagueName":54,"matchId":55,"matchName":56,"publishedAt":57,"slug":58,"sourceName":59,"sourceURL":60,"teamId":50,"teamName":51,"teamIds":61,"teamNames":70,"title":79},"326257546392244224","Nottingham Forest","Ezri Konsa has revealed that being labelled a “Rolls-Royce” by the Prince of Wales represents the pinnacle of his career, a royal endorsement that Aston Villa hope will carry them to glory in Wednesday’s Europa League final against Freiburg in Istanbul.\n\nThe England defender was speaking before Villa’s most significant European occasion in over four decades, as they chase a first trophy since the 1996 League Cup. Prince William, arguably the club’s most famous fan and an FA patron, is expected to be in the stands at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium, continuing a season of conspicuous support.\n\nKonsa described the surreal experience of royal visits to the Villa Park dressing room. “You get caught up in the moment and after you go home and think: ‘Flipping hell, I just shook his hand, he knows my name and everything,’” he said, highlighting how William’s presence has been embraced by players from diverse international backgrounds.\n\nThe heir to the throne has made no secret of his claret and blue allegiance, and last year admitted to posting anonymously on Villa fan forums. For Konsa, no praise compares to the Prince’s verdict. “He called me a Rolls-Royce once, so I’ll take that. That got stuck in my head,” the defender relayed, underlining the motivational weight such words carry.\n\nWilliam’s involvement runs deeper than mere fandom. As FA patron he will attend the World Cup in the United States this summer, but his presence at Villa’s semi-final second-leg rout of Nottingham Forest – a 4-0 victory that sealed a first major European final since 1982 – sent a clear message about where his heart lies this week.\n\nThe royal connection adds an extra layer of narrative to a match already freighted with history. Villa, European Cup winners in 1982, have endured a 42-year wait to return to this stage, and their journey under Unai Emery has revitalised a sleeping giant. The Europa League final offers not only a trophy but a gateway to the Champions League, transforming the club’s trajectory.\n\nFor Konsa, the “Rolls-Royce” tag – a term often reserved for defenders who combine elegance and reliability – feels apt. The 28-year-old has become a linchpin for club and country, and his calm authority on the ball mirrors the luxury vehicle’s smooth performance. In a high-stakes final, such composure could prove decisive.\n\nFreiburg, the Bundesliga outfit, represent a dangerous but familiar opponent. The German side’s disciplined approach will test Villa’s attacking flair, but the psychological boost of royal backing – and the knowledge that a prince believes in a player’s world-class quality – cannot be discounted. Konsa and his teammates will hope to reward William’s faith with silverware.\n\nKonsa’s interview also shed light on the quiet moments of recognition. William’s habit of personally greeting every player before games has left a mark. “He’s a Villa fan, I’m sure he’d know every player’s name,” Konsa noted. Such gestures forge a bond between the monarchy and a modern, multicultural squad that might otherwise seem worlds apart.\n\nAs the countdown to Wednesday’s showdown intensifies, Villa’s supporters are daring to dream. The prospect of seeing their team lift a European trophy under the gaze of royalty evokes the club’s proud heritage. For Konsa, a man once described as a Rolls-Royce by the future king, the night could etch his name into Villa folklore.\n\nBased on reporting from The Guardian.","news","Ezri Konsa says Prince William called him a 'Rolls-Royce' ahead of the Europa League final in Istanbul, with the royal expected to attend Villa vs Freiburg.","326257546425798656","Aston Villa","331792399959330817","326135627642834944","League","327052238641958912","Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest","2026-05-18T11:10:53Z","konsa-prince-william-called-me-rolls-royce-ahead-of-final","The Guardian","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Ffootball\u002F2026\u002Fmay\u002F18\u002Fprince-william-rolls-royce-ezri-konsa-aston-villa-europa-league-final",[50,45,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69],"326257546258026496","326222711682502656","326257664185077760","326257536049090560","326222707169431552","326255038584328192","326257700071542784","326257669738336256",[51,46,71,72,73,74,75,76,77,78],"Manchester City","England","Wales","Nice","Anderlecht","Legia Warszawa","Olympic","Forge","Konsa: Prince William Called Me 'Rolls-Royce' Ahead of Final",[81,117,144,175],{"awayTeamId":82,"awayTeamName":83,"body":-1,"category":48,"excerpt":84,"homeTeamId":85,"homeTeamName":86,"id":87,"leagueId":53,"leagueName":54,"matchId":88,"matchName":89,"publishedAt":90,"slug":91,"sourceName":92,"sourceURL":93,"teamId":94,"teamName":95,"teamIds":96,"teamNames":106,"title":116},"326222712592666624","Congo DR","Athletic Club plans 5.2M euro expansion to add 2,400 seats at San Mamés over 8 months, with no match disruptions, and may stack away games during works.","326222712143876096","Portugal","337970004265799681","327115058687512576","Portugal vs Congo DR","2026-06-04T12:51:50Z","athletic-club-to-add-2-400-seats-may-stack-away-games","Marca","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.marca.com\u002Ffutbol\u002Fathletic\u002F2026\u002F06\u002F04\u002Fobras-dotar-san-mames-2-400-nuevos-asientos-supondran-desembolso-5-2-millones-euros.html","326257565275000832","Athletic Club",[94,85,82,97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105,66],"326257539962376192","326255038114566144","326255039809064960","326255040400461824","326255041188990976","326257565195309056","326257565535047680","326257565702819840","326257745512632320",[95,86,83,107,108,109,110,111,112,113,114,115,75],"Como","Santa Clara","Dynamo Kyiv","FC Santa Coloma","FK Sarajevo","Barcelona","Real Madrid","Real Sociedad","Members","Athletic Club to Add 2,400 Seats, May Stack Away Games",{"awayTeamId":118,"awayTeamName":119,"body":-1,"category":48,"excerpt":120,"homeTeamId":121,"homeTeamName":122,"id":123,"leagueId":53,"leagueName":54,"matchId":124,"matchName":125,"publishedAt":126,"slug":127,"sourceName":59,"sourceURL":128,"teamId":129,"teamName":130,"teamIds":131,"teamNames":137,"title":143},"326257545918287872","Liverpool","McCabe's Arsenal to Chelsea move spotlights WSL rival transfers as common, driven by scarce elite clubs and players' need to maximize earnings in short careers.","326257545712766976","Manchester United","337883373844303873","326324144780087296","Manchester United vs Liverpool","2026-06-04T07:00:29Z","katie-mccabe-to-chelsea-why-wsl-rival-transfers-happen","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.theguardian.com\u002Ffootball\u002F2026\u002Fjun\u002F04\u002Fkatie-mccabe-chelsea-arsenal-wsl-transfer-move-controversy-abuse","326257546220277760","Chelsea",[129,121,118,132,62,102,63,133,134,135,136],"326257545968619520","326257546052505600","326257535919067136","326257546094448640","326257812931874816",[130,122,119,138,71,112,72,139,140,141,142],"Arsenal","Everton","Lyon","Tottenham","Stamford","Katie McCabe to Chelsea: Why WSL Rival Transfers Happen",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":48,"excerpt":145,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":146,"leagueId":53,"leagueName":54,"matchId":147,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":148,"slug":149,"sourceName":150,"sourceURL":151,"teamId":103,"teamName":113,"teamIds":152,"teamNames":163,"title":174},"Florentino Pérez pledges to sign Liverpool's Ibrahima Konaté if re-elected Real Madrid president, with more defensive arrivals promised to revamp the backline.","337754542600884225","0","2026-06-03T22:24:58Z","konate-to-real-madrid-what-perez-s-election-promise-means","L'Equipe","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lequipe.fr\u002FFootball\u002FActualites\u002FFlorentino-perez-annonce-qu-ibrahima-konate-jouera-au-real-madrid-la-saison-prochaine-s-il-est-reelu-a-la-presidence-du-club\u002F1681616#at_medium=RSS_feeds",[103,153,154,155,156,157,158,159,160,118,66,161,162,45],"326257537865224192","326257556060114944","326257600507154432","326257610309242880","326257618995646464","326257621004718080","326257621155713024","326257534526558208","326222713142120448","326222767416414208",[113,164,165,166,167,168,169,170,171,119,75,172,173,46],"Estoril","Estudiantes L.P.","Deportivo Pasto","Club Queretaro","CA Estudiantes","Esteghlal FC","Esteghlal Khuzestan","RB Leipzig","Canada","Lesotho","Konaté to Real Madrid: What Pérez’s Election Promise Means",{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":48,"excerpt":176,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":177,"leagueId":53,"leagueName":54,"matchId":147,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":178,"slug":179,"sourceName":180,"sourceURL":181,"teamId":182,"teamName":183,"teamIds":184,"teamNames":195,"title":206},"Patrick Wimmer leaves relegated VfL Wolfsburg for TSG Hoffenheim, swapping the Bundesliga drop for Europa League football after playoff disappointment.","337668028407746561","2026-06-03T16:52:19Z","why-patrick-wimmer-is-at-hoffenheim-relegation-to-europe","Kicker","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.kicker.de\u002Feuropa-league-nach-abstieg-wimmer-landet-in-hoffenheim-1224518\u002Fartikel#omrss","326257534237151232","VfL Wolfsburg",[182,185,186,187,188,189,190,191,192,66,161,193,194],"326257534362980352","326222707618222080","326257613643714560","326257661421031424","326257672598851584","326257761564233728","326257808217477120","326257801355595776","326257545754710016","326257554411753472",[183,196,197,198,199,200,201,202,203,75,172,204,205],"1899 Hoffenheim","Dender","Hassania Agadir","Denmark","Derry City","Güzide Gebzespor","Derby","Arminia Bielefeld","Newcastle","Newcastle Jets","Why Patrick Wimmer is at Hoffenheim: Relegation to Europe",{"awayScore":208,"awayTeam":209,"description":213,"homeScore":214,"homeTeam":215,"id":55,"kickoffAt":219,"length":220,"leagueId":221,"leagueName":222,"leagueSlug":223,"probabilityLabel":222,"slug":224,"status":225,"tvStations":226,"venueCity":21,"venueName":21},0,{"code":210,"id":45,"imagePath":211,"name":46,"slug":212},"AWY","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fteams\u002F65.png","nottingham-forest","Aston Villa host Nottingham Forest in a high-stakes UEFA Europa League knockout clash. A victory is essential for either side to keep their hopes of advancing to the next round alive. The outcome will directly determine which club progresses in the tournament.",4,{"code":216,"id":50,"imagePath":217,"name":51,"slug":218},"HME","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fteams\u002F66.png","aston-villa","2026-05-07T19:00:00Z",90,"326135631463845888","UEFA Europa League","uefa-europa-league","aston-villa-vs-nottingham-forest-2026-05-07","finished",[]]