Unai Emery must drag off Youri Tielemans at HT for Aston Villa v Leicester City
Unai Emery has to axe Youri Tielemans at half-time if Aston Villa want to win against Leicester City on Saturday.
The Villans go in at the break on level terms at Villa Park (4 January) with very few chances of note for either side throughout the opening 45 minutes.
Ollie Watkins arguably had the best opportunity of the first half but his first-time effort was blocked by Conor Coady.
If Emery wants to hand his side a boost to help breach the Foxes’ back line, a change has to be made in forward areas.
Unai Emery must axe Youri Tielemans at HT for Aston Villa v Leicester City
Ruud van Nistelrooy has set up his side to be tough to break down with a compact midfield and defence designed to reduce Villa’s creativity.
This has worked a treat with the middle of the park being extremely congested throughout the first half which Tielemans hasn’t been able to get through.
The Belgium international had just 17 touches in the opening 45 minutes but wasn’t able to utilise them as he failed to create a single chance [FotMob].
The 27-year-old had just one touch in the Leicester penalty area while also being unable to make the most of three corners.
As well as not creating chances for his teammates, the former Fox has had just one shot which represents a zero per cent conversion rate in B6.
It isn’t as if his defensive work is to blame for his lack of attacking output with just one clearance made while also losing one duel and also committing one foul.
With all that being said, the creativity of a more attack-minded player like Emi Buendia could be useful off the bench in the second half and it would make sense to axe Tielemans in that change.
In other Aston Villa news, European giants have opened talks to sign a Villa ace as fresh transfer news has dropped.
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