From The Athletic (not sure I agree with the headline, but in Unai we trust).
UNAI EMERY’S FAITH IN EVANN GUESSAND IS BEGINNING TO PAY OFF
If ever a goal crystallised a player’s start to life at their new club, it was Evann Guessand’s effort on Thursday evening.
Basel captain Xherdan Shaqiri made a hash of his clearance following Matty Cash’s inswinging corner, with the ball bouncing to Guessand.
Facing away from goal, Guessand’s first touch was heavy but inadvertently towards his right foot. A swivel of the hips managed to change the ball’s direction, with a lunging right-footed hook, almost slide-tackle-like, finding the near corner.
Guessand ended up on the turf, with the entire episode rather ungainly — similar to his only other goal in an Aston Villa shirt against Go Ahead Eagles, where a block-cum-interception trickled into the net.
Unai Emery knows the importance of a top-eight finish in the Europa League, ensuring as few games as possible in the new year. The relative lack of jeopardy — an inherent construct within an eight fixture format that allows stronger teams a large margin for error — means Villa are often conservative in their energy output and play to the level of their opponents. Though they continued their recent exceptional form by winning 2-1, matches like Basel can prove grinding affairs.
Guessand’s goal and performance were emblematic of this. His strike was an act of endeavour and instinct, fighting for a loose ball in the box and impressively getting a shot away. It was scruffy, like the game itself, and, like his own game, lacking finesse, but ultimately proved effective.
The 24-year-old is a complex profile of player. Scouting figures at other English clubs tracked Guessand last season — most notably Crystal Palace.
While Palace expressed interest, fellow Premier League teams, including rivals of Villa, had question marks as to what type of attacker he was and, quite frankly, how good he was.
Villa had scouted Guessand closely at Nice, remarking on his uptick in form and change in positioning at the turn of the year. Although other clubs did not know what his best position was, Emery’s fondness for attacking versatility meant this was not as big an issue at Villa.
“In the attacking third, he can play right,” explained Emery to reporters. “He can play as a striker or on the left side. We have decided to play him as a right winger.”
Villa felt the financial package — worth up to £30million — would prove good value. However, no one knew for certain, or wished to predict, what Guessand’s ceiling might be. Staff scout players with Emery’s outstanding coaching abilities in mind, knowing he can cause a transformative change in a player’s development.
Guessand is 24, which is not old, but not exactly young either. He plays with a rawness of someone perhaps younger, keen to do well yet requiring refinement. And because of this, his unpredictability in possession and performing specific duties can cause exasperation.
A case in point came away to Brighton & Hove Albion last week. Villa were 2-0 down and Emery had noted Guessand was not following instructions without the ball.
Emery shuffled around his technical area, quietly simmering. He then watched on as Guessand was out of position again. The anger which had been bubbling inside came surging out.
In his rage, the Spaniard grabbed his coat tightly, removing it fleetingly from one shoulder before putting it back on. He screamed at his right-winger, making it clear — through imitation — that he was strolling around the pitch. The spleen could not have been more evident.
Truthfully, though, this seemed an isolated incident and not in keeping with the faith Emery has in Guessand. Despite no Premier League goals and a general untidiness to his work, his manager sees his potential.
Guessand has dovetailed between starts and coming off the bench in the league, but in Europe, he is the only Villa player to have started every match.
“He needs time, and he’s competing very well,” said Emery following the 4-3 victory at Brighton.“I’m so happy with him, and especially because we are trying to get in our structure his best position to help us with his qualities.”
Emery is a taskmaster yet demonstrates loyalty to those who are endeavouring to carry out his instructions. So even if Guessand has wayward decision-making and execution at times, Emery remains inclined to expose him to more minutes or, as he puts it, “more experiences.”
Guessand and Emery have held talks, with Villa’s manager explaining the necessity of adapting to his highly specific remit of a right-winger. Sporting director Roberto Olabe has also outlined this to those close to Guessand, acknowledging that his role was different at Nice and therefore has needed time to adjust.
With Villa experiencing an imbalance in the squad, with few wide players to call upon, Guessand has been utilised as a remedy.
Emery encourages his winger to take risks in possession and be direct. This was perhaps a by-product of Guessand losing more duels than any player on the pitch in the first half. It was telling that after Guessand unsuccessfully attempted to knock the ball around his opponent at one stage, Emery’s response was to applaud.
When Emery made a triple change just after the hour mark, Guessand stayed on, even though he had picked up a small niggle less than a week before. Jadon Sancho, more technically accomplished but not quite as energetic, instead made way, slapping a seat on the bench in frustration.
Guessand can frustrate, with a heavy first touch and, as shown soon after his goal, can be prone to overhitting crosses under little pressure. He also had the fewest touches of any outfielder to have completed the match. He will leave for AFCON after Sunday’s trip to West Ham, meaning Emery will need to develop additional solutions to his team’s right-sided problem.
Maybe for £30m, you would expect an attacker slightly closer to the finished product, but there can be no greater endorsement of a player’s potential than Emery and his coaching staff continuing to play him, having publicly and privately offered reassurance that he is on the right track.
They have a knack for refining attacking players and Guessand’s raw components — however raw they seem to be — do chime with what is needed to flourish in England.
