Aston Villa news and updates
The Carabao Cup represented an opportunity for Villa to end their trophy drought, but Emery’s decision to make changes to the starting XI backfired as they failed to make it to the last eight.
After the game, Emery was asked about his decision to change the team, but the Spaniard stuck by his decision: “We started with 11 players in the first-team squad. We started with Tyrone Mings and Diego Carlos; they can play in the starting XI playing against Bayern Munich.
“We started with [Ian] Maatsen and Kosta [Nedeljkovic]. We started with [Boubacar] Kamara, with John McGinn, Leon Bailey, Jaden Philogene, Jhon Duran, and [Emiliano] Buendia. I don’t know if I can have some regret.
We are with our way, building the team, building the structure. Today we competed, but we lost. Of course, I am disappointed and frustrated, but we competed with the players to get the performance. If I am repeating this match 100 times, I am playing with the same players.”
While Emery stands by the decision to make changes to his starting XI, he was also quite vocal about one Villa individual after the game, stating his levels now are not what they were this time last season.
Unai Emery not impressed by Aston Villa star
As reported by Jacob Tanswell, speaking after Villa’s 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, Unai Emery gave an honest assessment of the performances of Leon Bailey. The 27-year-old joined the Midlands side back in August 2021 from Bayer Leverkusen and has been a key individual for them since, with last season being his best in a Villa shirt
Bailey, who is on a weekly wage of £120,000 at Villa Park, scored 10 goals and recorded nine assists in 35 Premier League games last season, as he played a very important role in the club reaching the Champions League.
The Jamaica international has struggled to make the same impact in this 2024/25 campaign, as he’s yet to get on the scoresheet in the league.
He’s a ruthless manager who won’t pay players for the sake of it and because they cost a certain amount. At the end of the day, Ian Maatsen will have to be like Duran and I’m sure he is behind the scenes.
“He’s part of a squad playing Champions League football. The moment Digne’s form drops off, Maatsen becomes the most magnificent option for Emery.”
Unai Emery to stay “intelligent” with Aston Villa selections
Unai Emery says he will continue to be “intelligent” with team selections after defending his changes in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup defeat to Crystal Palace.
Villa lost the fourth round tie 2-1 after Emery made 10 changes to his team which faced Bournemouth in the Premier League last Saturday.
Though the Spaniard says winning a trophy with Villa is an objective, he admitted finishing high up in the league and securing Champions League football is a bigger priority.
I am focusing and trying to be intelligent, firstly with the players who are coming back after a long injury but also with players who need chances to play and get minutes and confidence,” he said.
We want to get a trophy and it is an objective of mine here. Last season we played in the Conference League semi-final and got knocked out of two cups. But we got the most important objective, to get the Champions League.
“We are not getting our best performances every match, but we have to try and get it. The players tried to get their best and I have to accept the result and I have to try to understand how Palace achieved the result and how we didn’t.”
We want to get a trophy and it is an objective of mine here. Last season we played in the Conference League semi-final and got knocked out of two cups. But we got the most important objective, to get the Champions League.
“We are not getting our best performances every match, but we have to try and get it. The players tried to get their best and I have to accept the result and I have to try to understand how Palace achieved the result and how we didn’t.”
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