Aston Villa v Man City Post-Match Thread

[The Edge]

From The Athletic

HOW ASTON VILLA MADE MAN CITY
LOOK UTTERLY ORDINARY FOR 90 MINUTES

Fifteen years to the day after Unai Emery first encountered Pep Guardiola, he finally managed to overcome him in the most dominant of ways.

Aston Villa produced a performance for the ages on Wednesday evening and it should be considered their magnum opus since returning to the Premier League in 2019. It was a victory as domineering and deserving as there has been against Manchester City in recent memory. Quite simply: no one does what Villa did to them.

Even though Guardiola’s declaration of Villa as title contenders was premature afterwards, he had just watched his treble winners being completely outplayed and out-hustled.

City barely landed a punch. They registered two shots all game, the fewest ever by a Guardiola side and the joint-most shots faced (22) by an opponent. The second of City’s two shots came in the 11th minute. The 1-0 scoreline was merciful on Guardiola and could not have been more polarising to his first meeting with Emery in 2008, when Barcelona, eventual treble winners, won 4-0 against Valencia.

“Thierry Henry, I remember…” smiled Emery at Tuesday’s press conference, recalling his hat-trick. “You analyse my matches very well. But when I start remembering and thinking about my past, I stop as a coach.”

It served as the beginning of 13 games between the two, nine resulting in Guardiola wins and the other four being draws. In other words, Emery had never beaten Guardiola. Until now.

The tables were turned emphatically on Wednesday evening. Villa Park was caught in a frenzy and furore, testing its old foundations as Emery strode towards the tunnel at the final whistle.

Post-game celebrations after a landmark 50th game in charge were typically low-key, but there was a buoyancy in his step. Villa’s supporters were at their loudest and most exuberant. Shouts were hoarse from deep and long bellows. Emery had a toothy grin and hugged his close friend and director of football Damian Vidagany, who was waiting for him.

Vidagany was Emery’s press officer at Valencia in 2008 and like others close to Villa’s head coach, shares the school of thought that nights like Wednesday are a by-product of the Spaniard’s dedication and expertise.

“The Premier League has 20 of the best 50 best managers in the world,” said Vidagany. “Unai is close to the top level that marks Pep Guardiola. It’s a matter of time to get there for him. I’ve never seen anyone in my life work as hard as him. This is leadership. He also has a good heart.”

Despite history and records falling against them — with Villa having won only seven per cent of all Premier League fixtures against City — the theme of discussions between Emery and players’ before the match centred on being the “protagonists”.

In lengthy analysis sessions, recently running up to an hour and 15 minutes, Emery stressed the necessity of retaining the ball for prolonged spells, enabling his side to control the tempo before then cutting through City’s pressure from the front. And as ever, his players brought into the plan. “He’s naturally confident but he loves Emery,” said one source close to a key player in Villa’s dressing room who, like others, spoke anonymously to protect relationships.

Villa had reason to be bullish tactically. It is 10 months since their last home defeat (against Arsenal), a moment Emery retrospectively regards as a turning point. He held meetings with players, preaching that seizing control in matches would lead to the concession of fewer goals. More pertinently, he demanded an increase in approach and expectations. Fourteen games and as many wins later, Villa have equalled their longest-winning home streak in top-flight history. Expectations now are at an all-time high.

“(Emery) has been amazing,” said match-winner Leon Bailey. “His way of doing things is different. He knows exactly what he wants. Day in and day out, he knows what he’s doing to help us get three points.”

Emery knew the importance of Villa not solely reducing themselves to a counter-attacking threat. He wanted to create overloads centrally, selecting four archetypal central midfielders in a box shape that would lock on man-to-man against a City side without the suspended Rodri and a specialist midfielder.

There was a soft launch of the approach three days earlier at Bournemouth, in which the system used against City was unfurled in the second half. Emery has spoken about trialling different tactical systems during games, due to four fixtures in nine days affording scant time on the training pitch. Instead, messages needed to be explained while watching video clips inside the auditorium at Villa’s training ground.

Bailey’s role was instrumental in trialling formation. He was asked to stay high and wide on the right but, with Youri Tielemans playing slightly deeper nearby, make darting runs inside — similar to Ollie Watkins, who would stretch play in the opposite channel.

As encapsulated in his goal, Emery gave licence to Bailey in particular, encouraging him to dribble at speed and towards Josko Gvardiol. Within a touchline microcosm where the cogs in both managers whirred, Bailey’s usage was part of a broader plan to offset City’s rhythm.

“Sometimes at home, we are watching him and thinking ‘Wow, what a player’,” said Emery.

“He even plays better at home because he feels the love from the fans,” Bailey’s stepfather Craig Butler told The Athletic, watching from back home in Jamaica. “He’s very motivated by appreciation and how you feel about him — you’ve just seen that.”

As it turned out, Villa won possession in the final third 13 times against City, the most ever by an opposition team against Guardiola. They were shaken and stirred to dizzying levels and to the point where Erling Haaland was forced to clear inside his box while defenders slipped and slid in panicked scrambles to atone for errors.

“It was all about getting on the front foot tonight,” said one source close to the dressing room.

“We did the high press and being at home, we are really successful,” said Emery. “We have to be organised doing it and against City too, trying to recover the ball from their players is difficult. But we were very organised and did a fantastic job.”

While Emery carried out post-match media duties, members of his backroom team joined in with players’ dressing-room celebrations. It was controlled but jubilant, with team photos being taken before being congratulated by their families after they had made their way down from the player boxes.

This was a night to savour. Emery’s Villa have reached new heights and delivered the club’s greatest, most optimal performance of recent times — and they did so against Europe’s best team.

Reading that gave me the same butterflies in my tummy that I got when I first met Mrs Edge.

[Smithy]

McNulty is happy as it opens the door for Liverpool. Yeah I know he says he is an Everton fan but I have never know a rival fanC to write such sycophnatic drivel about their rivals over the last 20 years

Controversial perhaps but I'd be happy for Liverpool to win it if it can't be us. Man City not launching their annual comeback and being out of contention in latter part of the season, but Arsenal still bottling it would be glorious to watch. Although Liverpool missing out on the title by 2 points, bringing up that Spurs game again, would also be an enjoyable end to the season.

It's a hard one. City are financial dopers. Hate it regardless of how good they play. Klopp's 'act' as the smiley, happy, uncle wore thin a good while back. Replay the Spurs game - he fucking moans about kick off times let alone extra games. Arteta jeeps he is turning into Mourinho without the trophies.

I'd rather us or Spurs win. Neither will likely as not.

I don't want anyone "new" to win the league. That includes Arsenal. I don't "want" anyone to win the league apart from us.  But if it has to be someone, the least-worst option is Liverpool, then City (as any trophy they win will always be tainted).  But the next team to win it beyond City or Liverpool, I want to be us.

[jon collett]

what a night! Villa Park under the lights is always magical.

I think my biggest shock (admiration in a strange way) was the people still leaving 5/10 minutes early.

If you were ever going to watch the conclusion of a Villa match!

[lovejoy]

i wouldnt mind Arsenal winning it to be honest, at least they arent sportswashing cheats.

[Richard]

A few Citeh fans at work. They are from the area to be fair. One just said Villa were outstanding and would have beaten anyone last night. Music to my ears.

[john2710]

That was the best team performance I've seen since that 5-1 vs Liverpool in 1976. The first 45 minutes of that game was on a level I don't think will ever be repeated. But last night, for the full 90 mins we utterly dominated, in every aspect of the game, the best side in Europe.

But the parallels with that team & what came are there. We have better owners now too.

With a bit of luck we can achieve anything over the next few years.

[Rory]

Probably need to have a chat to my neighbours who I know well. 
But I was very loud.

Not as loud as the sound of VP was by me.

Means nothing to anyone who doesn't know the area, but I live just down the Beeches side of Walsall Rd, by Tower Hill, maybe two miles from VP, and for the first half I thought it was a huge group of supporters at the Towers pub.

I knew what was them missing a chance, I knew what was us going close, I knew what was us winning a corner, and Leon's goal sent shivers down my spine.

And this is from inside the house, behind double-glazing.

I've never known the noise to carry so well and it was absolutely fucking magnificent.

I was gonna ask you about that after your post earlier. Brilliant stuff.

I've lived in this house since I was 2. I spent two years in Lichfield and six in Worcester, but otherwise this has been my home. I have never heard anything like it.

Whether it was just the wind blowing in the perfect direction or not, it was extraordinary. Credit to all the boys and girls there today.

I used to go on the lam from my ex round there. Dyas Avenue I think it was. You must know it.

Yep, I know it 🙂

[Bobby Boy]

The morning after the night before and I am still feeling a mixture of euphoria and disbelief at what I witnessed last night.

The Play-off final against Derby will remain engraved in my memory for the outpouring of relief and joy at the fact that we were back in the big time after 3 years in the Championship but to watch us dismantle and destabilise the League and Champions League winners was extraordinary.

It will be a hard push to replicate such feelings again (unless it comes on Saturday of course!).

Every player was magnificent and at the absolute top of their games even more than maybe seemed possible.

One for the ages.

[Nii Lamptey]

The best atmosphere for an evening game at Villa Park in a long time.... Everton when we came back up was pretty decent, but still nowhere near the heights of Athletico Madrid or the penalty win against Inter Milan before it.

If we keep playing like we are and putting performances together like we are, the roof is going to come off Villa Park. Bottle that up and mix it with next season in the Champions League.

Saturday evening, fuelled by an all-day piss up is going to be electric!

[kipeye]

*sob* I didn't see it! *sob*

Did the performance eclipse the 5-1 against Liverpool in '76?

I even got a text about it from my sister saying what everyone is saying in that her husband has never seen a Villa side play better.

Fantastic Villa!

Not for me, brilliant though it was. That night has yet to be surpassed.

[DerbyVillian]

Brilliant night, under the lights.

fabulous team performance, so hard to pick a motm. They were all brilliant😁

is it too early to start building a statue of El Maestro 😄😄

[Footy-Vill]

It was a perfect match. The scoreline did not reflect the performance.
One of the most complete performances I have EVER seen from my team, Aston Villa!
Emery , the El Maestro asks the players to impose his strategy and meet the demands !! Magnificent!! Still smiling let Unai keep demanding the best from the players!

Heroes the lot of them!

Let's go Villa!

[London Villan]

If there was ever a manager to get the team to focus on Saturday after last night, it's Unai.

I think he'll change the team around, with Cash and Moreno coming in. He can't rotate Bailey though...

[sid1964]

Reading all the comments, makes me realise how much Aston Villa means to all of us.

A fantastic night that I will remember for many years to come, so glad I was there to see it and be part of it.

We need to get behind the team on Saturday again, as that is going to be another tough game.

[PeterWithe]

I woke up to a message off my dingle mate this morning saying "You lot were brilliant last night, reminded me of us under Nuno".

I don't think praise can get any higher than that.

A genuine snort into my coffe at that.