Unai Emery left staring at unwanted answer to Aston Villa problem of his own making
Share:
Unai Emery has admitted he needs to crack the code with Aston Villa strikers Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran - or else. Villa’s boss is facing a dilemma over the two after admitting his gamble to play both together backfired in Monaco. Emery started the game in the Stade Louis II with Watkins up front on his own - and then ordered Duran from the bench in a bid to rescue his side from a 1-0 defeat.
But the pair didn’t gel - and the Spaniard’s pre-match words - in which he called finding a solution to the issue ‘a challenge’ rang horribly true. And if he can’t, the possibility of cashing in on one or the other - possibly in the summer, will be on the cards.
Emery was so preoccupied with the loss - upset and angry in equal measure - that he forgot his manners in the bowels of the stadium afterward at the post-match press conference. The former Arsenal boss is polite to a fault. Throughout his time at Villa Park, he has always kicked off his address with: ‘Good morning,’ ‘afternoon,’ or ‘evening.’ For once, he completely forgot himself, so consumed was he with his emotions.
Little wonder. Villa lacked zip from the off but were in with a shout of snatching a point going into the final quarter. But Monaco looked more likely to add to the score after he introduced Duran. Emery felt Villa had been in the game and, at the final whistle, accepted a handshake from his opposite number, Adi Hutter. He then stomped off across the pitch to the dressing rooms without breaking stride, while his players thanked Villa’s travelling support.
