Unai Emery nepotism suggestion addressed as relative makes Aston Villa squad v Crystal Palace
Ty Bracey has rubbished suggestions of Unai Emery nepotism after his son Lander Emery made the Aston Villa squad against Crystal Palace.
After securing Champions League football, the Villans travelled to Selhurst Park and were smashed 5-0 on the final day of the Premier League season.
There were some changes to the starting XI and matchday squad as star players like Emi Martinez and Leon Bailey dropped out.
This saw Emery come onto the bench as a third-choice goalkeeper in a move which Villa podcaster Bracey doesn’t have an issue with.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bracey said: “Whether he had planned to put him out there or not, or whether he deserved to, I don’t know to be honest.
“Whether it was just for him to experience a matchday but Unai Emery doesn’t strike me as the kind of person who gets someone in just for the sake of it.
“I don’t think he’s that type of manager who would give his son minutes if it wasn’t warranted.”
Which Aston Villa youngsters deserved a start v Crystal Palace?
Coming into the final day of the season against Palace, Villa fans were expecting plenty of changes and academy prospects to start.
This wasn’t the case as fringe players like Robin Olsen, Clement Lenglet, Calum Chambers and Jhon Duran came in.
This didn’t inspire the side to win on the final day as they were thrashed 5-0 at Selhurst Park in a disappointing end to an amazing season.
With the game all but lost, Emery turned to his bench to hand Omari Kellyman, Finley Munroe, Tim Iroegbunam and Kaine Kesler-Hayden some minutes.
Arguably the four should have started the game and would have certainly given a better account of themselves than losing 5-0.
Calum Chambers and Douglas Luiz started the game in midfield and won four duels while Kellyman won 100 per cent of his after coming on [FotMob].
There was a chance to blood some new talent on a day when the result didn’t matter but Emery went another way and it didn’t pay off.
In other Aston Villa news, Jack Grealish stance on summer transfer mooted amid Manchester City exit links.
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.