By The Telegraph (World News) | Created at 2024-10-29 18:11:43 | Updated at 2024-10-30 19:25:11
1 week ago
Jhon Duran showed he is not just a super-sub as the striker followed up his Bayern Munich heroics with a goal from the start against Bologna to help send Aston Villa top of the Champions League table.
Villa could not have dreamed of starting their first Champions League campaign in more than 40 years with three wins from three games, but that is exactly what they have done.
John McGinn joined Villa when they were a Championship club and he netted his first-ever Champions League goal in the latest win that was achieved with such ease that Unai Emery was able to rest and rotate his players.
It is remarkable that Villa have already virtually secured their path into the knockout phase and they must now be aiming for a top-eight finish that would secure a path straight to the round of 16.
They have achieved what Real Madrid, Manchester City, Arsenal and Bayern have failed to do by making an unblemished start to their Champions League campaign. Last night, Villa were the only team with a perfect record.
Duran scored a volley with his final kick before being replaced by Ollie Watkins, who had been given a rest, and then booted a chair in frustration at being taken off as the Villa fans sang his name.
Villa’s ‘captain chaos’, who signed a new six-year contract earlier this month, just loves to be the centre of attention – much to the amusement of his team-mates.
Asked about Duran’s reaction to being taken off, Youri Tielemans said: “He is really funny. The manager does not care. He knows everyone wants to play. It is part of the game.”
Emery has a challenge on his hands to keep Duran happy with Watkins as his first-choice striker, but Villa’s manager has already proved that he is more than capable of getting the big decisions right and he did so again last night.
Watkins had headed a crucial goal against Fulham at the weekend. But with a busy run of games, Emery handed Duran just his second start of the season as a reward for his winner against Bayern. His first start came against Wycombe Wanderers in the Carabao Cup.
There were cries of “shoot” when Duran received the ball 30 yards out in a similar area to that from which he lobbed Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, but this time his effort was blocked.
Duran then forced a good save from Lukasz Skorupski with a header from Tielemans’ corner before almost teeing up Leon Bailey with a flick on, but the ball bounced up too high for the winger.
It seemed inevitable that Duran would grab the headlines somehow, but he had to be patient for his moment as Bologna held on in the first half and the 20-year-old was closely marshalled.
The returning McGinn tested Skorupski with a low shot he may feel he should have scored from and Tielemans had a powerful volley blocked as Villa pushed hard to open the scoring.
Duran looked set to try another shot from distance on the stroke of half-time. But, instead, he played a smart pass to Morgan Rogers, whose effort was saved. Rogers should then have put Villa ahead seconds later after being put clean through on goal, but the forward could not beat Skorupski.
It only took a couple of minutes of the second half for Villa to miss yet another chance, as Bailey pulled the ball wide from eight yards after a set-piece fell invitingly to him.
But Emery’s team made their pressure tell in the 55th minute and it was a goal that prompted complaints from the visitors and Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano.
Bologna thought Ezri Konsa had fouled Giovanni Fabbian before being hacked down by Remo Freuler after he broke up the right. Italiano and Emery exchanged words before McGinn sent in a free-kick that curled over everyone and into the net.
Italiano complained to Emery again, while the Bologna players surrounded the referee, as the Villa fans cheered a scoreboard malfunction that first incorrectly showed the home side to have taken a two-goal lead and then a three-goal one.
A brief VAR check allowed the Villa fans to celebrate loudly again when the goal was confirmed and the scoreboard finally correctly showed that their side were one up. Duran looked set to finish his second start of the season without a goal, but as Watkins prepared to go on, the Colombian netted his second Champions League goal, and his seventh of the season.
Rogers controlled a high ball over the top and crossed for Duran to volley in as he stretched. The Holte End erupted and it was the goalscorer’s final action as he was replaced by Watkins.
Duran kicked the chair in front of him as he sat in the dugout and had to be calmed down by a member of Emery’s staff before he jogged down the touchline and disappeared down the tunnel with a big smile on his face.
It was no surprise to see he was back out at full-time to lap up the applause of the Villa fans who will scarcely be able to believe what they are witnessing. Duran will no doubt believe he has now proved he is much more than a super-sub.
Emery has no problem with Duran’s angry reaction
Unai Emery hailed “fantastic” Jhon Duran and insisted he has the striker under control.
Duran scored with his final kick against Bologna before being replaced by Ollie Watkins and then booted and punched a chair in the dug-out before disappearing down the tunnel. Duran reappeared at the final whistle with a big grin on his face.
Asked if he had a problem with the Colombian’s reaction, Emery said: “No, of course I am managing everything. We are sending the message in the dressing room, respect our values and try to be mature and responsible. Sometimes players react a bit, but it is under my control.”
Asked about Duran’s performance and goal, Emery, the Villa manager, added: “Fantastic. Always it is difficult, but he scored the goal. He was watching maybe his change and he accelerated to score. For us and him it was fantastic. It is good to try and manage. It is the best for the team.”
Emery agreed his team may now have to aim for a top-eight finish that would clinch a path straight to the round of 16. “Of course, we can change the objective and to be in the top eight,” said Emery. “But I want to feel in a natural way, we are doing that but not as a surprise. There are other teams who are contenders and favourites to get top eight.”
