Ollie Watkins led the revival of Aston Villa and stood 'furious' because he was set aside, in the Champions League, for what should have been the award -winning moment of his club career so far
Unai Emery has £ 65 million to players from the 18-man team who pushed a lesson in black and white. The boss of Aston Villa had to draw Leon Bailey and Pau Torres aside before the kick -off to explain.
That is stunning in itself. But take a look at the power of the bank of Villas replacements On Saturday evening, the feeling that this is the best team ever saw in Villa Park.
Record signing Amadou Onana, (£ 50 million) was accompanied by Lucas Digne (£ 25 million) and Donyell Malen (£ 18 million) waiting for the call to participate in the promotion. And how can you value Marcus Rashford or Jacob Ramsey, who were also patiently waiting for their chance?
Add Axel Disasi and Ross Barkley to the conversation, which also cut the 18-man, and serious talent is waiting in the wings. Villa comes to the boil. For the first time since he took over two and a half years ago, Emery has an empty treatment room.
It is Tuesday Manchester City. And Villa is in just the kind of mood to test the side of Pep Guardiola to a location that has been a claret and blue murder soil in the past. Emery said: “When I arrived here, it was my goal to play more games in the season, Europe, like now in the FA Cup, which played in the semi -final.
“Our levels have increased. They have clearly increased. We are going to play more than 55 games this year. Last season we played more than 55.
“There are more players in the national team. We had problems earlier because we had not enough players available to play, we did not record points because we had no players fit, or they were injured, or they didn't get the level we needed.
“Now – and always in my career as a coach – if I perform better, it is when I have players available and two players per position, more or less, play and perform well.
“We are right now, and our momentum is the momentum of the team, not only the 11 players. They show it, and it is necessary to have players ready to play, and some players also on the couch.
“This was the first time this season that I had to get players from the team because every player was available today. It was for different circumstances that I decided to leave Pau (Torres), Leon Bailey and Lamare Bogarde away.
“Of course it's good for me to make this decision. I want such moments.” The program remarks of Emery were unusually founder in pointing to the value of beating the tone. His right hand, Damian Vidagany, strengthened it on his Twitter feed and said: “This is just as important as a semi-final of the Champions League.”
There was no suggestion for a hangover of the painful defeat against PSG. With such a quick change, there was no time for someone to feel sorry for himself.
Villa's boss added: “We played in the first part of the season in the Champions League. After those competitions we did not perform well. After we lost against PSG, we responded so quickly because our goal is again in Europe and to get through the Premier League.
“There are still 15 points to play for, and we are behind other teams. The players are aware of how difficult it will be and of their responsibility to respond as they did today.”
There was a sparkle in Emery when he was questioned about his selection council during the press conference before the competition prior to the visit to Newcastle.
“I love my players,” he said. Angry? The reaction he received from striker Ollie Watkins showed that the international of England was not very livid because he was omitted in the middle road of the side of PSG.
The attacker led the revival of Villa and was 'furious' because he was sidelined for what the award of his club career should have been so far.
Watkins said: “I have submitted a lot of hard transplant in recent years to get into that position. I wanted to start the important games because I played a major role in achieving where we are now.
“Of course I played for 20 minutes in both games against PSG – so I'm not going to lie – I was smoking that I didn't play. I told him.
“He is the manager at the end of the day. I respect his decision. But I am not one of the players who are happy to sit on the couch. Instead of being hindered, you have to use that anger and make you insist to prove the manager differently.”