Why Unai Emery substituted Amadou Onana amid injury fearrolinson
by John Townley, https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/authors/john-townley/ · Birmingham LiveUnai Emery has revealed his decision to substitute Amadou Onana in Aston Villa's win over Bologna was both tactical and because of some pain the midfielder was feeling.
Onana was replaced by Ross Barkley for the start of the second half and Villa managed to get ahead not long after as John McGinn's free-kick headed into the far corner in the 55th minute. Just nine minutes later, Jhon Duran doubled the host's lead by turning in Morgan Rogers' cross.
Asked by TNT Sports why he took off Onana, Emery said: "Tactical decision but as well he had some pain," Emery. Not clear. I decided tactically and also not take a risk with him."
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Villa are currently top of the Champions League phase table after winning the first three games against BSC Young Boys, Bayern Munich and Bologna this evening.
"We are playing seriously, we are playing focused, responsible and the team is progressing and mature in everything," Emery said.
"We tried to break the press man to man. We conceded some things in the first 15 minutes but then reacted very well.
"It is always difficult at home in Europe. We have had to try and be consistent in our gameplan for 90 minutes and I think we did that today."
Villa's next Champions League game comes against Club Brugge in Belgium in two weeks.