Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is expected to make changes for our Carabao Cup tie with Everton, and so our squad players must step up and deliver.
Villa made multiple changes for our trip to Legia Warsaw in the Europa Conference League last week, but things didn’t go to plan having suffered a 3-2 defeat.
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The Spanish tactician conceded after the game that he had perhaps made a small tactical mistake and so he took on the responsibility and blame too, but ultimately he was let down by those deputising as they didn’t perform to a high enough level.
It’s clear that the Villa boss expects every member of his squad to step up when needed, as he emphasised the importance of building a team and using all 25 players, and that means being able to plug in different personnel into his starting XI when needed, and them being able to implement the same style of play and game-plan.
We long spoke about the absence of an identity at Villa in terms of our way of playing, and Emery has instilled key principles since he took charge that add personality and characteristics to this side that have proven to be successful.
Together with Villa’s President of Football Operations, Monchi, and our scouting department, they identified five players this past summer who could strengthen the squad and fit into our way and kept faith in others already in the group, and so it’s imperative that they now show that ability to adapt and integrate.
While Robin Olsen has already been spoken about at length in terms of being able to prove he can be a consistent and reliable stand-in option for Emiliano Martinez, there are five other players who could get another opportunity to play in midweek.
Both Calum Chambers and Clement Lenglet must improve in defence if they get the nod, as we lacked composure and positional awareness last Thursday in Warsaw, which dismissed any chance of putting in a solid defensive performance.
If the pair start, regardless of their position and role in the backline, they have to be better and show they can step in when required to give the likes of Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres a rest.
In midfield, this game could be an ideal opportunity for Leander Dendoncker to come back in and get valuable minutes to build his match fitness. The Belgian international is a physical presence in midfield who can add a steeliness to our play off the ball and be a steady option to keep things ticking over in possession.
We’ll need him in key situations over the course of the campaign, and so it’s vital he puts in a good shift if he starts.
Meanwhile, after an impressive pre-season and mostly positive impacts off the bench, Youri Tielemans wasn’t at his best last week. We need him to lead the way in setting the tempo and dictating possession to give us that all-important control in midfield, as we certainly miss Douglas Luiz’s influence when he’s not in the side.
That’s down to Tielemans to replicate in his own way, and it’s pivotal he gets on the ball and makes us tick on Wednesday night, should he get the nod.
Up top, there is likely to be another opportunity for Jhon Duran. The 19-year-old has four goals in eight games already this season, and he should continue to get chances in Europe and in the cup competitions.
In turn, it’s crucial he keeps that consistency going and shows Emery he can deliver on a regular basis, not only in terms of goals, but the job he does for the team in leading the line. If he does that, he’ll earn more trust and more chances will surely follow as he has impressed thus far.
