Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery (Image: PA)
Unai Emery has hailed Jhon Duran's performance in Aston Villa's 3-2 win at RB Leipzig in the Champions League, but confirmed that the striker replaced Ollie Watkins due to a small injury.
Watkins assisted John McGinn's opener by nodding down Matty Cash's cross so the captain could convert from close range. After Leipzig responded through Lois Openda - who took full advantage of a defensive mix-up - Duran then restored the lead shortly after coming on for the start of the second half, beating Peter Gulacsi from distance.
Ross Barkley came off the bench to score the winner in the 83rd minute as his strike from outside the box deflected in after Christoph Baumgartner had levelled at 2-2 on the hour mark.
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"I try to enjoy and always we want to improve and sometimes it is hard but today the team were performing well, playing seriously and I was enjoying it," Emery told Amazon Prime. "We tried to overcome the mistakes we made and we did. More or less we were playing consistently.
"One mistake and they score but then we played very well. Champions League is very difficult and we have to expect that every team playing at home are feeling strong. We played with consistency and domination.
"The last 10 minutes you have to be positive and try and use the players you have and the subs to try and get the victory." Today we were thinking if we won we could be a contender in the last two matches to be in the top eight. We achieved this option and we are going to try and get top eight. We are happy because we are in the top 24."
Speaking about his substitutes: "The idea when we prepare the game the plan is also for the subs to help if we needed it. Watkins had a small injury and Duran scores. Buendia and Barkley scoring the third goal. This is what any coach would want.
"Sometimes he [Duran] is very impatient and we have to try and keep balanced with him. He scored a great goal and he works and we are trying to get the team strong with a tactical approach. His potential is massive. Tactically he is improving and today he played a fantastic 45 minutes."
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