Anthony Onifade

Thu 21 September 2023 19:44, UK

Aston Villa kicked off their Europa Conference League return in disappointing fashion as they suffered a 3-2 defeat to Legia Warsaw in an action-packed and enthralling contest in Poland.

The tone was set after just three minutes as Pawel Wszolek was allowed to get ahead of his marker to slot a low cross home before Jhon Duran made amends by heading home after Nicolo Zaniolo’s shot had been pushed onto the bar by Kacper Tobiasz.

Legia were invited on for their second with Villa guilty of some more slack defending when Ernest Muci was left alone to charge into the box and latch on to Wzsolek’s cross to fire home.

Lucas Digne’s deflected strike cancelled that out but the defensive horror show from the Premier League side continued after the break as Legia were gifted possession and Muci was given all the freedom he needed to fire a superb low shot inside the far bottom corner.

Here, Villa News rates the Villa players out of 10 for their performance against Legia Warsaw.

Emi Martinez – 5/10

Wasn’t entirely at fault for any of Legia’s goals but will absolutely be raging at his defenders in front of him for their slack and absent defending when he needed them to deliver but the Argentinian international and World Cup winner didn’t look convincing at all.

Defenders are only as good as the goalkeeper behind them and vice-versa and Martinez will be disappointed by his performance this evening picking up a woeful goals prevented score of -089 [SofaScore] and failing to deal with any incoming crosses or being assertive so his defenders can go on and lead from the back.

Calum Chambers – 4/10

Guity of some comical and poor defending in the first half when Legia Warsaw perilously targetted his right-hand flank to completely expose his defensive frailties. Was half-asleep on both of Legia’s goals when he allowed the cross for the first before failing to track the runner for the second.

Preferred to Matty Cash for this game and Emery will certainly be ruing that decision right now with the former Arsenal man failing to show why he’s a capable understudy to the Polish international.

Ezri Konsa – 3/10

After the news of his new contract at Villa Park, Konsa simply failed to build on it with a disappointing showing on his first European bow. Was given the absolute runaround by Ernest Muci, and despite his own well-known pace, was totally outclassed and outpaced at one point during the first half which will have led to another easy goal for the hosts.

Again, he was at fault for the third, allowing Muci all the freedom of Poland, failing to engage as he ran at him outside the Villa box before he unleashed an impressive drive past Martinez. It certainly seems as if the uncapped Englishman is struggling without his regular defensive partner, Tyrone Mings. Given a woeful SofaScore rating of 6.1 [SofaScore], failed to register any tackle, no interceptions, no blocks, and dribbled past once while winning all of his aerial duels.

A poor showing and a night to forget.

Clement Lenglet – 5/10

Given his first start in an Aston Villa shirt and for such an experienced defender, Lenglet certainly looked like the player whom Barcelona were desperate to get rid of and the one whom Tottenham simply did not want to sign on a permanent basis.

A dreadful performance by the Frenchman. Won 100% of his ground duels though, successfully completed 95% of his passes and completed one dribble but those stats are very skewed as the Barcelona loanee did not convince in what will be a rare start now.

Lucky not to be hooked off at half-time as all three of the goals Villa conceded could have been avoided had he and Konsa been more assertive and dominant in their defensive areas. Emery will be hoping trusted lieutenant Pau Torres avoids injury in the near future, Lenglet right now doesn’t look like a viable and capable understudy.

Lucas Digne – 6/10

Scored Villa’s second but Digne like his defensive teammates did not look at his best at all. Certainly at fault for at least two of Legia’s goals and did not put in one of his most impressive showings in what’s been a season of improvement and rejuvenation for him so far.

With Alex Moreno now back from injury, the Frenchman certainly faces a tough fight on his hands to keep his spot after this latest disappointment. Will he start the game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge? It’s very debatable. Lost possession of the ball a whopping 14 times, registered just 29 of his 41 passes, failed to win any of his ground duels and dribbled past once [SofaScore]

John McGinn – 4/10

Another disappointing evening for the Scotsman who has entered the post-international period after the England defeat in worrying form. Was nowhere to be seen against Crystal Palace on Saturday and was largely absent against Legia too which will have his manager Emery mightily concerned.

One thing about McGinn though, is he will take this performance in his stride and improve on it, much is his mentality and character that this performance certainly won’t faze him at all. Will certainly start at Stamford Bridge at the weekend but must improve considerably.

Boubacar Kamara – 4/10

Another player who has once again flattered to deceive after his showing at the weekend. Tried to keep the tempo flowing for Aston Villa on the ball but failed to provide the security that Emery knows he can provide and his team needed in a poor showing alongside Tielemans.

Failed to win any of his ground duels, registered just one interception, failed to complete any of his long balls, lost possession eight times, and dribbled past once before deservedly being hooked off in the 60th minute [SofaScore]

Youri Tielemans – 5/10

Tielemans is supposed is supposed to be the leader of the new school at Villa Park but hasn’t been given the starts to prove as such and when he does feature, rarely looks like the player that wowed the Premier League for a number of years. It’s still so early in his Villa Park career but given his experience and pedigree, he was supposed to hit the ground running instantly.

Against Legia Warsaw, the Belgian showed why Emery is so hesitant to start him for Villa yet as he looked unconvincing for much of the game and failed to deliver the security his defence needed as Legia had so much joy running through the Aston Villa midfield.

Nicolo Zaniolo – 7/10

After his disappointing showing against Crystal Palace in his first start for his new club, Emery placed his faith in the Italian once again by starting him against Warsaw and Zaniolo certainly looked bright and looked like a man on a mission to right those Palace wrongs.

It was his piercing shot that led to Duran’s goal and looked like one of Aston Villa’s only bright sparks in the final third, completing 100% of his dribbles, winning five of his ground duels, registering two key passes, one shot on target and successfully completed just 75% of his passes [SofaScore]

Leon Bailey – 6/10

Another quiet starting opportunity for the Jamaican international who no longer seems a guaranteed starter for Emery, with Zaniolo now in the picture at Villa Park. Had a crucial chance in the second half but failed to wrap his foot around the shot which would have handed his team a crucial equaliser.

Was easily ushered out by the Legia Warsaw defence.

Jhon Duran – 6/10

A superb gifted striker and could have ended with a hat-trick. Took his goal brilliantly with a brilliant instinctive header soon after Legia’s opener with his positional competition and out-of-form teammate Ollie Watkins watching on.

The Colombian is so alert, sharp and attentive in the box that he will score bucketloads of goals for Aston Villa both now and in the future. It’s now four goals so far this campaign and long may his terrific form continue.

Very unlucky to be withdrawn for Watkins in the 60th minute as he was certainly one of Villa’s better players. Scored a goal, won two of his duels, registered just nine touches and won one foul [SofaScore]

Substitutes

Moussa Diaby (on for John McGinn) – 5/10

Douglas Luiz (on for Boubacar Kamara ’60) – 5/10

Ollie Watkins (on for Jhon Duran ’60) – 5/10

Matty Cash (on for Calum Chambers, 66′) – 5/10

Jacob Ramsey (on for Nicolo Zaniolo 66′) – 4/10

In other Aston Villa news, Alan Hutton has pointed to an Unai Emery signing who could be dropped for their European return.