Nicolo Zaniolo must step up 0% Aston Villa displays after promise to the fans
Nicolo Zaniolo will need to step up his performances at Aston Villa after a new interview in which he called for fans to give him time to adapt and show his quality.
It has been an underwhelming season for the Italian after arriving on loan from Galatasaray, but with these new quotes, he has set himself a target and must show improvement.
Zaniolo has been away on international duty with Italy and will be hoping to replicate the form he has shown there on his return to Villa Park.
Speaking to Turkish outlet SportX on 22 November, Zaniolo shared: “When you make a change, you need time. I am happy because the Premier League is a great place.
“Aston Villa is also a great team. But I need to adapt. I have a lot of time in front of me. I want to make the most of it and show my quality.”
The Italian’s below-par form at Aston Villa led to Unai Emery dropping him to the bench in their Premier League clash with Fulham, where he remained an unused substitute.
That call came as a result of two poor league displays in the loss against Nottingham Forest and the win against Luton. Across those two games, Zaniolo competed in 20 duels, and won just four of them, with a 0% success rate in aerial duels against Luton summing it all up. [Sofascore]
In both of those games, Zaniolo was dragged off after just 45 minutes as he made a combined 13 passes, losing possession 20 times as he failed to make an impact on Emery’s team.
On international duty however, the Italian appeared to step up his game, stepping up in the crucial 0-0 draw with Ukraine to secure Italy’s Euro 2024 qualification as he completed 100% of his long passes, won five of nine duels, attempted three dribbles and drew three fouls. [Sofascore]
He will need to carry this form back to Aston Villa if he wants to appease the fans and make good on his promise that, given time to adapt, he will show his quality in the Premier League.
In other Aston Villa news, a pundit has shared that one Villa star is struggling to bed in.