Unai Emery has heaped praise on Victor Lindelöf after the defender’s impressive start to life at Aston Villa, as the Villans prepare to face Crystal Palace tomorrow. The Aston Villa boss was speaking to club media in comments shared via the team’s official X handle, offering insight into Lindelöf’s impact both on and off the pitch, Softfootball reports.
Aston Villa signed Victor Lindelöf on a free transfer after the defender left Manchester United at the end of last season, a move that is already proving to be astute as injuries have tested Villa’s depth in defence.
Emery revealed that his relationship with the Swedish international goes beyond their current spell together at Villa Park, explaining how a familiar connection played a role in his assessment of the defender. Emery said.
Brilliant. I call him Mata, Juan Mata. He’s a team mate in Manchester United three or four years ago and coached Mata in Spain. He is fantastic guy, intelligent. He’s an intelligent guy.
The Villa manager went on to explain how he personally sought advice before moving for Lindelöf, underlining the importance of character as well as quality.
I called him speaking around the possibility to sign Lindelof as a person, as player, the commitment and everything that he told me. Now we are watching it. Fantastic guy, very professional, respectful.
Lindelöf has been required to adapt quickly following injuries at the back, and Emery was full of admiration for how seamlessly the defender has stepped into an unfamiliar role.he added.
He was being passionate and he adapted playing on right side and we needed him because we had those two injuries: Tyrone Mings and Pau. He played in the level that we expected. And of course I am so happy how he is helping us. And I told to him: ‘You set up a level here. Now you can’t get under this level.
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The Villans head into the Crystal Palace game in red-hot form, having won 10 of their last 11 matches in all competitions.Their only defeat in that run came in a heavy 4-1 loss to Arsenal. Villa currently sit third in the league on 42 points, level with the teams around them and just six points behind league leaders Arsenal, as Emery’s side look to keep the pressure on at the top of the table.
