Royal Antwerp defender Engels: Aston Villa? It was dead | OneFootball

Bjorn Engels admits big regrets over his time with Aston Villa.

The 26-year-old left Villa to sign for Belgian outfit Royal Antwerp at the end of last season, bringing to an end a challenging couple of years in the UK.

“During my first season, I felt very good in England. But the Covid messed that up," he told Sport Magazine

“My family was still able to come once, for Christmas. Before that, they came every two weeks, for our home games, and also often to London as we played a lot of away games there.

“For months, I didn't see anyone. My daughter was born in January, and the family saw her for the first time in May. Mentally, it's difficult.

“In short, I didn't play; I didn't see my friends, I didn't see my family, and I could hardly leave my four walls.

“Why did I always dream of England? For the atmosphere in the stadiums. It gives you an incredible adrenaline rush. Here I was condemned to the bench, and it was dead."