Aston Villa's set-piece coach Austin MacPhee
Aston Villa's set-piece coach Austin MacPhee(Image: PA)
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Troy Deeney has admitted he is baffled by Chelsea's decision to headhunt Aston Villa set-piece coach Austin MacPhee.
Over the last three Premier League seasons, only Arsenal (64) have scored more goals from set-pieces than Villa.
Despite that record, the former Birmingham City striker has questioned why MacPhee is regarded highly enough for Chelsea to buy him out of Unai Emery's backroom staff.
Chelsea are understood to be activating a release clause in MacPhee's contract with Villa. His departure would come as a significant blow to the Midlands club, given the success they have enjoyed from set-pieces in recent seasons.
“I am actually baffled, to be honest with you,” Deeney said on talkSPORT, however. “I don’t want to discredit anyone’s progression because he spends his whole life worrying about set-pieces and throw-ins, but come on.
“They are replaceable, a set-piece coach. The game has gone nuts. I want to know, hand on heart, why is he the best?
“What do you see in a set-piece coach that makes you think, ‘Let’s go for that’? Chelsea don’t have the players Arsenal or Villa have to score those set-pieces.
“Why is there a release clause? For staff? To me, it is crazy. The world is as such now, though. Coach drivers, they get us there on time! The world is going mad, but Villa are getting rinsed again, so I am happy.”
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