Unai Emery gamble backfires as Aston Villa's Champions League hopes take a hit
MONACO 1-0 ASTON VILLA: Villa's hopes of going straight through to the Champions League round of 16 have taken a hit after they were beaten by Adi Hutter's side
by Neil Moxley · The MirrorIn a city famous for its motoring heritage, Unai Emery’s men delivered a fitting performance - they got stuck on the grid.
Villa’s third game on the road in seven days proved one too many as they spluttered to a deserved defeat. It wasn’t that they choked - far from it - but tyred legs undoubtedly played a part after visits to Goodison Park and the Emirates inside the last week.
They rallied briefly but were unable to battle their way past opponents who have their own designs on finishing in the top eight, much to the chagrin of HRH Prince William, watching from the stands.
And now the stage is set for a showdown with Celtic at Villa Park next week, which will determine whether Villa can make it into the elite part of the competition. If they can, it increases the prize money, avoids the possibility of a play-off game - and potentially gives them a weaker draw in the last 16.
So the stakes were high before kick-off. Unfortunately, while the brief would have been explained by Emery, his players were unable to fulfil it. They looked short of their usual energy all over the pitch and were caught out at a set-piece - and were unable to recover.
In fairness, Villa enjoyed their best spell just before the interval with home keeper Radoslaw Majecki saving well from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins. But Monaco caused problems themselves.
Adi Hutter’s side might have been well beaten in north London by Arsenal, but they have pedigree in the Principality. Barcelona were one of their scalps earlier this season. And Red Star Belgrade were hammered by five.
As it to prove a point, they were ahead inside eight minutes. Lamine Camara’s ability from set-pieces is well-known throughout Europe. And the corner, delivered to the near post saw Thilo Kehrer rise between Watkins and Tyrone Mings to power a header towards goal.
Villa keeper Emi Martinez did well to palm out the initial effort but Wilfried Singo was on hand to nod home the rebound. The Argentine keeper, whose antics during the penalty shootout in the World Cup final against France three years ago upset an entire nation, was soundly booed whenever he was called into action.
And he had to be alert a few moments later when Maghnes Akliouche’s snapshot from the edge of the area brought out his best. Slowly, Villa managed to exert themselves. Polish keeper Majecki produced a one-handed save to block Bailey’s effort.
And with the same hand he denied Watkins, with a better stop after the England striker broke free of Monaco’s defensive shackles in first-half injury-time. Emery had seen enough after a few minutes to hook the out-of-sorts Bailey, giving Jhon Duran the chance to further cement his reputation in the competition.
But strangely, despite Duran having made a huge difference twice after coming on from the bench in the competition, they lived down to Emery’s pre-match expectation. The Spaniard had voiced concern as to whether they can operate together, calling the situation: ‘a challenge.’
They both failed it here. After the Spaniard took that gamble, strangely Villa tailed off as an attacking threat. Monaco looked more likely to add to their tally in the late stages. A clearly upset Emery shook Hutter’s hand and then stomped off to the opposite corner of the pitch to the dug outs where the dressing-rooms are housed at the Stade Louis II.
Villa have work to do next week. A full house against one of Scotland ’s big-guns should be sufficient to bring out more endeavour than they showed last night.
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