THURSDAY evening’s match was always going to be an intriguing one from an Aston Villa perspective, even without considering the Marco Asensio and Jhon Duran storyline.
Villa couldn’t avoid resting players, with the build-up of injuries forcing some to perhaps play more minutes than originally planned, particularly with the busy upcoming schedule.
Five changes to the starting XI, in what was always going to be a difficult game, was of much interest.
Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres both started on the bench, making way for Victor Lindelof and Tyrone Mings, who made his first start since September.
No player has made more starts for Villa under Emery than Konsa, but he is one player who cannot afford to get injured, especially given his partner, Torres’ patchy record.
Aerially, Mings is far better than any other defender in the squad, giving his side extra dominance when defending crosses and from attacking set-pieces.
He fought of his marker early in the game from a corner, heading over the bar.
Quickly after the restart, Mings missed another opportunity after rising high above Ederson, before slashing a bobbling ball wide of the target.
Speaking after the game, Emery said: “After two months not playing, he (Mings) needed to show like he did his comeback, playing and getting the commitment.”
He would’ve been aware of the threat his former teammate Duran posed, equipping him well to battle the Colombian, which he did, excellently.
Victor Lindelof has started seven games since December as a result of Torres’ absence and was handed another opportunity tonight.
The Swede’s eight years at Manchester United had seen him play many away European matches in feisty atmospheres, giving him the experience needed to marshal the back four and keep a clean sheet inThursday’s 1-0 win.
Lucas Digne, who has seemingly lost his starting role to Ian Maatsen, also started.
Left-back is probably the lowest-priority position for the transfers department now, with a great mix of ability, style and availability.
The Frenchman’s weaknesses in comparison to Maatsen is evident, with the latter thriving in pace and unpredictability that Digne simply doesn’t have.
With the former Dortmund man ten years junior to his competition, Emery has eased Maatsen into the starting XI naturally, as Digne, although still valued by his manager, begins to naturally be phased out.
Digne played the full 90 minutes and performed well and avoided injury – he’s not going to let his spot go without a fight!
Perhaps the main talking point in the current squad, though, is the ever-changing midfield situation.
On paper, the strength Villa have in this position is unbelievably strong, but injury issues never seem to allow Emery to have them all to choose from at any one time.
Within two weeks of each other, John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara find themselves rooted to the treatment table, with the latter being ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Ross Barkley has also only managed to compete in seven league games this season, with record-signing Amadou Onana missing 40% of matches since joining the club in 2024, returning to the bench vs. Fenerbahce.
Onana came on against Fenerbahce and, as always, put himself about and offered Villa a skillset no-one else in the squad can.
His challenge now is to remain regularly available until the end of the campaign, as he is the only player who can expertly shield a defence like Kamara does, who will still sorely be missed.
Lamare Bogarde started his third consecutive game and racked up his second 90 minutes in the space of a week.
The 22 year-old’s noticeable growing in confidence and comfortability in Emery’s system has seen a great increase in minutes.
Moving into a back five to see out the final 20 minutes against Fenerbache, Bogarde’s versality makes him an extremely valuable asset to Emery during an injury crisis.
George Hemmings is another option in midfield for Villa, but at only 18 years-old, he’s not yet expected to feature a large-amount in a team who’s pushing for trophies and a position in the Champions League.
The youngster came off the bench in added time to replace Youri Tielemans, who is Emery’s most trusted fit midfielder, backed up with the manager saying: “He is my son!” after the match.
McGinn will be out for “around three weeks” but will “continue to be assessed” according to Emery and, while able to perform well in the middle, is typically deployed out wide for Villa amid a lack of natural wingers in the squad.
The captain’s injury will see increased minutes for loanee Jadon Sancho, who played on the right on Thursday, scoring the only goal of the game.
Speaking after the game, Sancho said: “The manager and the team are helping me get to my best. I know I can do a lot more. I’m hard on myself in that aspect.
“[Emery] keeps telling me to be positive. It’s nice to have a manager that backs you and obviously believes in you. Hopefully I can deliver goals more.”
Sancho’s time at Villa has only seen him make eight starts in all competitions, which has seen demands from fans demanding more of the man Villa are paying a large portion of his 300k a week salary he’s on at Manchester United, his parent club.
His opener against Fenerbahce was his first goal for the club, which should only give him more confidence when presented with goalscoring opportunities.
Illness and the form of his teammates haven’t allowed for Sancho to get on the pitch as much as he would’ve liked, so it still feels like we are yet to see the best of him in claret and blue.
Sancho was the only natural winger in the squad before Wednesday morning, when Leon Bailey was announced to be returning from his loan at AS Roma.
The recalling of Leon Bailey stresses the need for bodies in the attacking midfield/winger department, a player marked surplus to requirement in the summer and moved on to save money, with AS Roma covering his full salary.
Other players who have played on the wing this season include Harvey Elliott, who’s loan looks set to be terminated, and Evann Guessand, who’s £30 million summer move is still leaving much to be desired.
Finally, another start for Ollie Watkins, who has an ongoing knee issue, is another glaringly obvious sign Villa needed to sign a forward.
An injury to Watkins would’ve left Emery with no natural strikers left to bring on.
Despite making numerous good runs tonight, Watkins failed to get the better of the experienced Milan Skriniar, who comfortable fought off the striker on multiple occasions.
Donyell Malen was the club’s top scorer this season before leaving for AS Roma, but is seemingly about to be replaced, with the signing of Tammy Abraham imminent.
The lesser-seen Andres Garcia was also entrusted with seeing out last 20 minutes, coming on for Matty Cash.
Garcia’s entrance saw Villa switch into a back five, with Bogarde dropping in alongside Mings and Lindelof.
Before the right-back’s substitute appearance at The Emirates in December, Garcia had been unavailable since April and is still regaining match fitness.
Matty Cash’s fine form would’ve likely seen Garcia cemented to the bench at times anyway, although added depth during these times is welcomed by Emery.
Villa’ squad, although thin in some areas, is surely good enough to secure either Champions League football through the Premier League or win a trophy, something Emery admits he is “dreaming” of doing for the club.
His side are still expected to make more signings before the transfer window shuts.
