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Polish media react to Matty Cash display in 2-0 win v Faroe Islands, Unai Emery will wince back at Aston Villa
Aston Villa defender Matty Cash has undergone an eventful start to the campaign so far but his latest international performance has again not gone down well with the Polish media.
Cash has proven a crucial commodity in the Aston Villa side in recent seasons after some assured and dominant performances at right-back since his move from Nottingham Forest in 2020.
The latter stages of the 2022/23 campaign was something of an unfortunate struggle for the Polish international, suffering from injuries and a lack of form which hampered his progress both at club and international level.
However, this 2023/24 season the former Nottingham Forest man has proven somewhat of a Jekyll & Hyde for the Pole international.
At club level, Cash has been superb for Emery as Aston Villa currently sit fifth in the Premier League table, with 16 points from a possible 24 on offer after eight games.
So far this campaign, he’s recorded an impressive 2.5 key passes per game and successfully completed 25% of his crosses while also excelling in his defensive actions, helping his team to two clean sheets, registering 0.8 interceptions, 2.5 tackles, 4.9 balls recovered and winning 55% of his total duels [SofaScore].
However, for his country it’s a totally different story as some of his performances have left a lot to be desired it seems.
The 26-year-old full-back was nowhere to be seen in the starting eleven for Poland in their 2-0 win over Faroe Islands in September [Polish Press, 24Kurier, 8 September] as he sat through the whole game on the bench.
did return for their next encounter against Albania on Sunday 10 September but Poland were easily defeated 2-0 on the night with the Aston Villa right-back once again given the role of a right-winger and Polish newspaper Przeglad Sportowy (10 September) certainly didn’t hold back in their criticism, handing Cash a 4/10 rating:
“He returned to the squad after a long international break. Many people wondered why Santos did not designate him to play on Thursday. He must have gathered all his strength for Tirana. He deserved an award. Cash played a decent match, the right side was very active, but what’s the point if it didn’t bring any result.”
In his 90 minutes on the pitch for Poland, Cash completed just 27 of his 37 passes, failed to complete any of his three crosses, successfully completed two of his five long balls, won just nine of his 17 total duels at a success rate of 52% and lost possession of the ball a whopping 22 times whilst being dribbled past twice [SofaScore] against a not-so-strong Albanian team.
Now, after the return match against Faroe Islands on Thursday, in a lacklustre 2-0 victory, the Aston Villa defender was ripped into by the Polish media following his performance, despite winning seven of his eight duels, 100% of his dribbles and recording one key pass [SofaScore] but it wasn’t enough for his country’s liking.
Polish journalists Łukasz Olkowicz and Mateusz Święcicki told Meczyki.pl [13 October] that they are disappointed with the Aston Villa player’s displays for his country.
Cash started as a right-wing-back in Poland’s 2-0 win over Faroe Islands and was replaced before brutally being replaced Pawel Wszolek in the 59th minute and Olkowicz and Święcicki delivered worrying verdicts.
“The disproportion between left and right was huge. There can’t be that much of a difference. Everything dangerous happened basically on the left side,” Olkowicz said.
“I don’t know why Cash can’t play for this national team. For me, this is disappointment no.1. This is a player who regularly plays in the Premier League, he joins an average European team in which he was supposed to be a leading figure.”
On Cash’s national team form, Święcicki explained: “We are dealing with a player who has been doing great since the beginning of the season. I cannot understand the fact that in the Polish national team, he falls on the pitch and is unable to create any interesting action.”
While the Polish defender consistently performs for his club, he’s not having the same desired effect for his country which will certainly leave Aston Villa manager Emery wincing and in a state of flux as to why he’s struggling.
He’ll be hoping he can improve considerably in their next fixture because a confident and happy Cash mostly means a rampant and in-form Aston Villa.
In other Aston Villa news, the club could threaten to terminate a behind-the-scenes deal earlier than anticipated.