Aston Villa's Emery Criticizes Harvey Elliott Amid Limited Appearances

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery has explained his tactical decisions involving two Liverpool loanees, Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho, during their recent 1-0 Premier League victory over Manchester City. Elliott, who has played just 167 minutes since joining Villa and has made only five appearances out of the ten needed to trigger a £35 million obligation to buy, was left out of the matchday squad due to tactical reasons despite training well and showing commitment; Emery emphasized the high demands and competition for the attacking midfield positions. Meanwhile, Sancho, on loan from Manchester United, was substituted after playing around 45 minutes following an early introduction due to fitness concerns, with Emery highlighting his progress but cautioning against overexertion. Emery praised Sancho's performance as "fantastic" but noted the substitution was pre-planned to manage his fitness, acknowledging that players sometimes feel embarrassed or frustrated by such decisions. Both players are adapting to Villa's tactical structure, with Emery expressing belief in Elliott's potential while stressing the need for continued improvement to secure more playing time. These decisions reflect Emery's focus on collective team performance and managing individual players' fitness and form in a competitive squad environment.