Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery spoke with clear satisfaction after watching his side produce yet another resilient comeback performance, this time in a hard-fought 2–1 win over Leeds United at Elland Road. The victory marked Villa’s third straight win, continuing the momentum they built just before the international break.
Softfootball understands that John McGinn, who recently celebrated his 300th appearance for the club, was in action again today, playing 68 minutes as Villa fought from behind to secure all three points. Villa had trailed at half-time after Lukas Nmecha’s early opener for Leeds, but a brilliant second-half double from Morgan Rogers turned the match around and sent the travelling Villa supporters home delighted.
According to Aston Villa’s official X handle, Emery praised the character and consistency shown by his players, saying:
We had the challenge in this match, how we were coming back after our break and how we performed last month, getting very big wins against the better teams in the Premier League – Tottenham, Manchester City, Bournemouth.
But we were able to show again our capacity to be consistent, and away, compete like we did, progressively better. The second half (was) better, but overall, 90 minutes, I am so happy how we competed. Even the first half, we didn’t play brilliant, but we were always trying to set our gameplan on the field, and progressively we did it. After we played away five matches, we only won one match, against Tottenham, (the other) four matches, we draw two, and we lost two. And today was the challenge, if we were able to get the average. The average, more or less, thinking in 38 matches how we can finish today in the table for our ambitious objective to be in the top positions in the table, and we did it.
Emery also highlighted the crucial support from the Villa fans who travelled in numbers, noting how their presence lifted the players during difficult spells.
I am so proud of the players. Of course, thankful for the supporters, because they were pushing us, and they were helping us, and they travelled here to be with us.
And I think, we could help, to be happy then as well. And now it’s keep going, and of course happy, and of course to analyse now the match, trying to get as well, deeply, everything we did.
But I can analyse now overall the match, and progressively how we played today, how we did the competitive way today, I am so, so happy.
Rogers who recently signed a contract extension, stole the headlines with a composed equaliser just minutes into the second half before curling in a superb free-kick to seal Villa’s comeback. Emery praised his in-form attacker but was quick to emphasise the importance of collective effort.
We need individual performance. We must get our structure stronger, collectively, tactically, be disciplined and organised, but individually, we need how they can feel comfortable, confident, play with their skills. And in different matches, we are showing, as well, individually, our performance. And today, was brilliant, Morgan Rogers, but Morgan Rogers, he’s playing fantastic, even when he’s not getting his numbers, like today.
With Villa climbing steadily and showing renewed stability away from home, Emery’s side continue to position themselves firmly in the race for the Premier League’s top spots as the season progresses.
