Unai Emery has admitted there are areas Aston Villa must address in the transfer market after Saturday’s disappointing 1-0 defeat away at Brentford.
Villa have failed to score a single goal in either of their first two league outings for the first time since 2002/03, while they last failed to win one of their opening two fixtures back in 2019/20. Slow starts in matches haven’t been irregular since the turn of the year, with Villa often having to come from behind, but they haven’t been nearly as lacklustre as this.
It’s been ponderous at best and Villa dug their own grave by conceding early against Brentford. Pau Torres’ attempt to intercept Igor Thiago’s flick-on – from a 50-yard Caoimhin Kelleher pass, no less – was laboured, before Dango Ouattara ran through to score the crucial goal. It was a half-hearted effort to win the ball and Villa, slow in possession, then faced an uphill battle.
Emery highlights ‘key’ to Brentford defeat
The travelling Villa Park faithful were audibly frustrated by the lack of impetus and drive from their side as the visitors hardly laid a glove on Brentford, even despite dominating with 78 per cent of possession. It was always going to be tricky to come back from a goal down against such a low block.
Emery was bemused by his team’s slow start. The Spaniard demands so much from his players but they weren’t giving back - at least in the opening exchanges - and that’s ultimately what cost Villa. The writing was on the wall as soon as the ball nestled in Emiliano Martinez’ net, sadly.
“We lost the match today because the first 20 minutes we weren't really performing and playing with the intensity we needed. The key was conceding the first goal,” Emery admitted.
“Because last year, we won 1-0, and that match was maybe more difficult than the one we played today. Two years ago, we won as well in a very difficult match. We need to clarify some circumstances we have next week and try to get our structure stronger again. Last year, we needed time to get it.”
McGinn flaw exposed in opening fixtures
One problem that has become abundantly clear for Villa in the first two games is the lack of pace and directness on the flanks, especially down the right. John McGinn, usually a very positive presence as captain and one of the hardest workers in the team, has struggled to make his mark. The skipper simply isn’t a right winger, but he’s been deployed there two weeks in a row.
Donyell Malen and Evann Guessand have been options off the bench, but the pair are more inside forwards as opposed to out-and-out wingers. Some may argue that Malen and Guessand at least have the pace that McGinn doesn’t; however those two may be exposed defensively in the slightly deeper role McGinn has been occupying.
Leon Bailey leaving for Roma before a replacement was drawn in was perhaps a mistake, even after his painstakingly poor form last season. Emery has admitted he would prefer to play McGinn in a different position that would align with his strengths, though that may not be possible without a new signing.
“We have some circumstances now that we are trying to work,” Emery added. “We finish the window next week and John McGinn performed as a right winger. His characteristic is not getting individual action man to man. But he can open space for the full-back. He can get passes forward to teammates.
“We are building a team to get strong and help our players get their best position in our structure. We have to improve things, we have to clarify some things in the transfer window in the next week. We have enough players but we need to clarify some circumstances with some players whether they are staying or not, and the possibility of adding someone to help us.
“Finishing the transfer window next week, we are going to clarify everything. My message is to keep calm, move on and do the work we are doing, also be strong in our mentality. I was frustrated because we started losing some easy balls and we didn’t get defensive duels that we normally do. Of course, this is something we have to avoid.”
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