Lamare Bogarde shares honest Unai Emery thoughts after Aston Villa exit revelation
Lamare Bogarde has raved about Aston Villa boss Unai Emery for his emergence into the first-team frame, having revealed he almost quit Villa Park.
The 20-year-old signed a long-term contract at Villa Park in the summer and has featured five times for the first team this season.
However, his future at Villa could have gone in a different direction; Bogarde explained to Voetbal Primeur [22 November] that Emery blocked a permanent exit before his contract renewal, and the defender expressed his gratitude to the “football genius”.
“Emery is a man of his word, because he really gave his chance. If I had to describe him, I think it would be ‘football genius’,” he said.
“He is really crazy about the game. He analyses every match down to the second and is really obsessed with football. He knows what he is doing, and you can really see that.”
He added: “I have played the most in the six position and as a central defender in the youth, but I also fill the right-back position happily if the coach needs me there.
“The coach also thinks I am very multifunctional. He really likes that I can play in multiple positions.”
Lamare Bogarde can help Aston Villa beat Crystal Palace
Emery’s side will welcome Crystal Palace to Villa Park on Saturday [23 November] after a much-needed respite for most of his players over the international break.
This weekend’s opponents took the victory at Villa Park last time out in a 2-1 win in the Carabao Cup, the start of a four-match losing streak across all competitions.
Throughout this period, Bogarde has found himself back on the fringes for the Villans as Ezri Konsa has been delegated right-back duties in the absence of Matty Cash.
However, with Konsa now in serious doubt about being declared fit for the clash on Saturday after sustaining a fresh injury setback on international duty with England, Bogarde now has the perfect opportunity to prove to Emery why he wanted the Dutchman to remain at Villa Park this season.
Bogarde last started for Aston Villa in the 3-2 win against Everton, and the young defender produced a performance more fitting of a seasoned professional than a promising prospect, even in the face of a two-goal deficit.
On the day, he won 63 per cent of his duels, made five tackles, one clearance and one interception against Everton [Sofascore].
Furthermore, Bogarde completed 90 per cent of his passes with one key pass and one big chance created, and completed 50 per cent of his long balls in a complete all-round display.
Bogarde averages an 87 per cent pass completion rate in the Premier League, as per FBref, so he can more than hold his own in that regard.
He also averages 4.2 tackles per 90 minutes, which stands him in good stead defensively speaking.
Even if Konsa and Matty Cash were not suffering injury concerns heading into the clash, Bogarde should be the preferred option to start on Saturday against an opponent who have already gotten the better of Emery on home soil this season.
Aston Villa are at risk of losing five consecutive matches and losing further ground in the race for Champions League qualification, and Emery cannot afford to misfire with his team selection.
In other Aston Villa news, Ollie Watkins is the reason why Paul Merson is shocked by Villa ‘madness’.
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