Samuel Iling-Junior breaks silence on Unai Emery after impressing away from Aston Villa
Aston Villa have had their attacking struggles this season.
Unai Emery seems to have fixed Villa’s attack after his side only managed to score two goals in their first six games of the season.
Morgan Rogers has come under fire this term, with Ollie Watkins also disappointing, but one Villa forward in Samuel Iling-Junior, hasn’t looked back since leaving the club on loan in the summer.
Iling-Junior joined West Brom on deadline day in 2024 and is yet to play a single minute under Emery since that big-money move from Juventus. Now, he’s opened up on his move away from Villa Park.
Samuel Iling-Junior calls Unai Emery ‘intense’ while hailing Aston Villa’s loan setup
Iling-Junior had his first loan stint back in Italy with Serie A side Bologna.
After failing to establish himself as a regular starter, he was recalled and sent on loan to Middlesbrough in the Championship.
- Played left-back, left-wing and right-wing for Middlesbrough
- Scored a wonderful solo goal for West Brom vs Leicester City
- Starred in England’s U21s’ Euro campaign
The 21-year-old has explained his relationship with Emery and what Aston Villa are doing to support him.
“He’s very intense but a very calm guy at the same time. He’s very calm, easy-going,” he told the Express & Star.
“When it’s on the pitch, he’s like ‘this is how I want things done’. But as a person, a lovely person, we had a conversation, and that was good.
“In both pre-seasons I’ve had with him I’ve learned a big chunk, and that’s about how he plays his football.
“They’ve got a loan system, so they’ve got a management that keeps in contact with us, sees how we’re feeling, and makes sure that we’re good. They’re really good with that.”
Now finding his feet at West Brom, Iling-Junior could make a statement ahead of a return to his parent club and Emery.
Iling-Junior can make an impact for Emery in the future
Emery and Villa clearly see Iling-Junior as a talented footballer, as they spent the big bucks in bringing the young starlet to B6.
Unfortunately for Iling-Junior, he hasn’t reached the heights that he would’ve hoped in previous loan spells, but now has the perfect chance to continue impressing in a push for promotion with Albion.
If the winger can keep his place in West Brom’s side, there’s no reason why he can’t make the jump next season to Premier League football, just look at Morgan Rogers.
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