Unai Emery explains brave Aston Villa decision after Juventus draw

Emery decided to switch McGinn and Rogers for Wednesday’s 0-0 draw in the Champions League, moving Villa’s skipper to the number 10 role and Rogers out to the left flank.

The subtle adjustment was brave as Rogers has played his best football just in behind Ollie Watkins and McGinn is normally more impactful in defensive scenarios. Emery’s plan was clear when Villa were in possession as Rogers provided pace and width while McGinn, nearly level with Watkins, backed into defenders to kick-start attacks.

Although Villa were rather uninspiring under the lights at Villa Park, it wasn’t Emery’s tactical tweak to blame but rather a collective lack of clinical nature. Rogers being denied a last-minute goal was frustrating but the bore draw was probably the deserved result as Villa’s final ball was wayward more often than not.

Despite the disappointment of not claiming all three points, Emery was proud of what he saw and he’s hinted at utilising McGinn and Rogers’ versatility more often.

“McGinn is coming back. His performances are progressively getting better and he has to help us playing left side, as a 10 number or even on the right side because when he’s in good form and he’s fit, for us he’s very important,” Emery told BirminghamWorld in the post-match press conference.

“Today he played 90 minutes and he played I think a good match, playing seriously, playing as well in his position giving us the thing tactically we needed.

“Morgan Rogers on the left side, he can play in both situations as well and those players with this personality you have to be always trying to use both in different positions.

“Now, with Ramsey injured and Emiliano Buendia getting better, those three players more or less are now in my mind are to play in those positions,” Emery said.