Aston Villa v Lille: Unai Emery must drop axe on Matty Cash in Conference League
Unai Emery may look to make changes at half-time as Aston Villa aim to beat Lille in the UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final on 18 April.
Villa conceded a goal which means that it’s now level at 2-2 and Emery’s side need a goal to win this.
Nicolo Zaniolo has already been taken off and Matry Cash is proving to be a liability.
Unai Emery needs to galvanise Aston Villa at half time
According to Sofascore, the Poland international has struggled down the right flank and has barely touched the ball in the final third.
Thus, it comes as no surprise that he’s failed to complete a single cross all half.
He’s also been pretty negative with his passing and the Villans just seem to be passing it around the back, not really doing much.
The two times Cash has attempted to play it long, he’s been wayward and failed to find his desired target.
Towards the end of the half, one of them managed to find their desired target.
He even lost his ground duel with a 0 per cent win success rate and is not really offering much going forward or defensively.
The right-back has also lost possession on four occasions and it’s far from an ideal performance from him.
Aston Villa must come out victorious post the second half
By asserting dominance early in the second half, Villa can apply pressure on Lille’s defense and capitalise on any weaknesses.
Key players like Ollie Watkins and John McGinn need to continue their goal-scoring form and create opportunities in Lille’s half.
Maintaining possession and controlling the tempo of the game will allow Villa to dictate the play and limit Lille’s chances.
Additionally, Villa’s defence must remain disciplined and focused to prevent Lille from gaining momentum and closing the aggregate gap.
A solid defensive performance, combined with clinical finishing, can secure a decisive victory for Villa and ensure their progression to the semi-finals.
In other Aston Villa news, a doctor has issued an “unfortunate” response as footage has emerged of Tyrone Mings with an update on his current situation.
For more Aston Villa news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.