Unai Emery delivers stroke of genius with Moussa Diaby decision as Aston Villa starting XI emerges v Manchester United
Unai Emery has delivered a stroke of genius for Aston Villa ahead of the Manchester United clash with Moussa Diaby axed for the game.
The Villans confirmed their starting XI for the game at Old Trafford on Tuesday evening (26 December) with Emery making two changes from the side which slumbered to a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United on 22 December.
The Spaniard has made the decision to axe Diaby and Matty Cash from the line-up in Manchester with Ezri Konsa coming in at right-back and Diego Carlos replacing Cash to sit alongside Clement Lenglet at centre-back.
Diaby is correctly replaced by Leander Dendoncker who sat out the 1-1 draw with Sheffield United in what was a strange decision.
The Frenchman looked totally anonymous against the Blades, and Emery could well have recorded a win had he started Dendoncker instead.
It’s now one goal and one assist in Diaby’s last 10 games in all competitions for Aston Villa (SofaScore) after he raced to three goals and three assists from his first eight games at Villa Park.
During his 74 minutes on the pitch, the 24-year-old completed just 75% of his passes, and completed just two of his seven dribbles at a woeful success rate of 28 per cent, an “electric” winger simply does not record those numbers.
He also failed to register a single key pass, recorded one shot on target failed with 100 per cent of his cross attempts and won just four of his eleven attempted ground duels [SofaScore].
Emery correctly hauled him off after another stinker for Zaniolo, a decision which proved masterful once again by the Spaniard after the Italian scored the crucial equaliser that certainly kept Aston Villa in touch with the top of the table.
Dendoncker could well have been the ideal candidate for his usual defensive midfield role still in his left-wing role and the Belgian’s last start, against Zrinjski certainly suggested he could do a job for Villa.
In the 1-1 draw with Zrinjski Mostar last week when he completed 92% of his 77 passes and won two of his three aerial duels at 66 per cent [Sofascore].
Dendoncker was often tidy in possession last season, in fact, as he completed 93 per cent of his short passes [FBref] – no Villa midfielder boasted a better return – and likewise his passing over what is defined as “medium” range (91.7 per cent).
Villa looked terribly open in midfield against Sheffield United last week and that gap could well be plugged better by having Dendoncker alongside Douglas Luiz with John McGinn performing his usual auxiliary left-wing role.
Correct call by Emery.
In other Aston Villa news, a broadcaster has shared something the Villa players must stop after an FA development has emerged.