Unai Emery gets it wrong with Jadon Sancho decision as Aston Villa starting XI vs Young Boys revealed
Aston Villa have named their starting XI to face Young Boys on Thursday.
Young Boys have travelled to face Villa in the final Villa Park outing in European competition in 2025.
The Europa League clash represents a repeat of last season’s Champions League meeting, where Villa won away to Young Boys in September 2024.
Villa are now without Jacob Ramsey against Young Boys, after he scored one of three goals at the Wankdorf Stadium over a year ago.
Unai Emery now has someone like Jadon Sancho to call upon, but he may live to regret utilising him against the Swiss outfit in B6.
Aston Villa name starting 11 to face Young Boys
Villa secured a 2-1 win against Leeds United last time around and will be keen to maintain their form against YB.
Emi Martinez didn’t cover himself in glory at Elland Road, despite making three saves, but has kept his place in continental action.
The Argentine has been joined by Ian Maatsen in the starting XI, with the left-back, Victor Lindelof and Lamare Bogarde coming in for Lucas Digne, Ezri Konsa and Matty Cash.
Pau Torres has remained in the side, with Youri Tielemans keeping his spot in claret and blue and is set to be joined by Amadou Onana instead of Boubacar Kamara.
Emery has once again called on Morgan Rogers after his brace against Leeds, with Evann Guessand and Sancho coming in to join the England international, while Emi Buendia and John McGinn drop to the bench.
Ollie Watkins has faced the axe in B6 after his 33 per cent shot accuracy last time around, being replaced by Donyell Malen from the start.
Jadon Sancho has struggled for Aston Villa this season
The ex-England international signed for the Villans on loan in January and has seriously struggled for minutes under Emery.
Sancho has clocked up just 110 minutes of Premier League action, but has been more of a regular feature in the Europa League.
The winger started last time around on the continent as Villa welcomed Maccabi Tel Aviv to B6, but he was unable to contribute to either of the two goals on the evening.
He did complete three dribbles and was able to create three chances on the night, so things could have been different on the back of his 80 per cent pass accuracy.
The annoyance is that he completed just 20 per cent of his five attempted crosses, and he was dispossessed twice in the Midlands.
Sancho’s five failed duels will be of great frustration to Emery, and it is something that needs to change now he has been given the chance in claret and blue.
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