The decision to pair Jhon Durán and Ollie Watkins upfront proved costly as Aston Villa succumbed to a disappointing defeat against AS Monaco at Stade Louis-II. Unai Emery, never one to shy away from self-critique, openly admitted his tactical adjustment disrupted the team’s control and contributed to the result.
Despite dominating much of the game and failing to capitalize on their chances, Villa’s performance took a significant downturn after Durán replaced Leon Bailey and joined Watkins in a two-striker system. With the midfield weakened and spaces opening in central areas, Monaco exploited the vulnerabilities, nearly doubling their lead on several occasions.
A Missed Opportunity for European Progress
This result deals a severe blow to Villa’s chances of securing a top-eight finish in their Champions League group. Even a victory against Celtic in the final match may not suffice to progress further. While qualifying for the play-off stage is commendable in their debut Champions League season, Villa’s strong start, including victories over Young Boys, Bayern Munich, and Bologna, raised expectations far beyond that milestone.
Speaking candidly in the post-match press conference, Emery accepted responsibility for the tactical gamble. “We lost with one mistake. I made a mistake when I decided to play with two strikers,” he admitted. “Until that moment, we were controlling the game. However, we became weak in midfield, allowing Monaco to counter and come close to scoring again. I took this decision to try to improve the situation, but it wasn’t working.”
Emery added, “For the last 20 or 25 minutes, we lost our positioning. Both Durán and Watkins are fantastic players, but today, playing together didn’t work. My focus now is to build the mentality and strength within the team as we move forward.”
Set-Piece Struggles Compound the Defeat
Villa’s lackluster performance at set pieces was another glaring issue. Tyrone Mings’ misjudgment led to Monaco’s first corner, which culminated in Wilfried Singo’s rebound goal. Offensively, Villa failed to generate meaningful chances from seven corners, while Lucas Digne’s rare free-kick attempt was tame, falling well below his usual standards.
Villa’s set-piece specialist, Austin MacPhee, is widely respected for his expertise, but the execution against Monaco was subpar. Emery did not hold back, declaring, “We were horrible at set pieces. We had seven corners and didn’t come close to scoring. The problem lies in some players not following the plan.”
Building for the Future
The defeat serves as a stark reminder of Villa’s journey toward European competitiveness. Emery’s challenge lies not only in refining tactics but also in instilling a resilient mentality within the squad. Despite the setback, the Villans will aim to finish their group campaign strongly, knowing the lessons learned from such encounters could prove invaluable for their growth.