Aston Villa beat Manchester United 3-1 in Unai Emery’s Premier League return
Unai Emery guided Aston Villa to a thorough 3-1 victory over Manchester United in his first Premier League match in nearly three years.
After taking charge of Villa on November 1, Emery quickly ingratiated himself with supporters on Sunday with a home PL victory over Manchester United for the first time in 27 years.
Emery replaced Steven Gerrard, who was sacked on October 22 after Villa started the 2022-23 season with a 2-3-6 record.
Lining up in a 4-2-2-2 formation, Villa came out of the gate hot and took an early lead via Leon Bailey in the seventh minute. A clever build-up combination between Ollie Watkins and Jacob Ramsey made space for the Jamaican, who cut into the United box and beat David de Gea on his left.
The first goal of @UnaiEmery_’s reign. 😍 pic.twitter.com/IbwjgS0kof
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 6, 2022
Minutes later, Ramsey drew a foul outside of the United box and Lucas Digne scored directly from the ensuing free kick. With some instruction from Villa keeper Emi Martinez, Digne curled a shot up and around the United wall, beating de Gea again on his left.
A fluky Ramsey own goal in the 45 minute cut United’s deficit in half (2-1) just before the break, but Villa were up to the task in the second period.
Ramsey, involved again, provided a late run into the United box in the 48th minute, and Watkins, surging down the left side, found the 21-year-old with a low pass. Ramsey promptly deposited the pass first-time into the net with a high shot into the top-right corner (3-1).
Post-match remarks: Emery and Ramsey
Emery said post-match:“I enjoyed it a lot today. We were so focussed on our game plan. We were so strong with their (the fans) support.
“It’s only one step and we have to achieve regularity and we have to achieve being consistent in the next matches – at home and away. We have a lot of work to do.”
Ramsey added: “The new gaffer and his staff have come in, the week was about tactical work and how we can concede less goals, playing on the counter-attack. And I think we did that.”
Aston Villa 3-1 Manchester United: a closer look
Despite being out-shot (8-6) and out-possessed (59%-41%) Villa held a 0.70 to 0.52 expected goals (xG) edge in the match. Three goals on 0.70 xG tells us Villa were efficient in front of goal, but, moving forward, that’s not a sustainable conversion rate.
Emery’s decision to use a 4-2-2-2 formation paid dividends as key members of the squad returned to their preferred positions.
Bailey–who played up top with Watkins–thrived in a central attacking role, and the two-man midfield pivot of Douglas Luiz and Leander Dendoncker allowed Ramsey and Emi Buendia the freedom to join in attack.
Watkins was superb in the split-striker system, often dropping off to create space in behind him. His work on both the Bailey and Ramsey goals proved crucial.
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