Unai Emery recently shared details about a brief conversation he had with Jhon Duran following Aston Villa’s 2-0 Champions League victory over Bologna. Duran, who was visibly frustrated after being substituted, expressed his displeasure by thumping and kicking seats on the bench.
Emery addressed the incident, aiming to manage the young striker’s emotions and redirect his focus on the positive outcome.
Duran had a standout game, doubling Villa’s lead in the 64th minute after John McGinn opened the scoring just nine minutes earlier. The 20-year-old displayed his athleticism and positioning skills by getting in front of his Colombian compatriot, Jhon Lucumi, to tap in a cross from Morgan Rogers, outsmarting Bologna’s defense and finding the net past goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski. However, Emery had already decided to substitute Duran before his goal, with Ollie Watkins waiting on the sidelines to come on. Despite his impressive performance, Duran’s frustration at being taken off was clear, and he let his emotions show once he returned to the bench.
Nevertheless, the young forward’s mood brightened after the final whistle, as he received the UEFA Player of the Match award for his performance against Bologna. His skillful play and crucial goal were instrumental in Villa’s win, highlighting Duran’s significant contributions in European competition this season.
Addressing the situation with Duran, Emery explained his approach to keeping the focus on the team’s accomplishments rather than on individual frustrations. “After the match and the press conference, I told him, ‘we won a Champions League game, you scored a goal in the Champions League, I don’t want to be answering questions about this,’” Emery said in his pre-match press conference ahead of Villa’s upcoming Premier League fixture against Bournemouth.
Emery acknowledged Duran’s youthful passion, which sometimes manifests in intense emotions. “Of course, he is young, he has passion sometimes, and sometimes he is showing his energy – positive and negative – but it’s not relevant, not important,” he continued. Emery indicated that the issue was swiftly resolved in their one-minute conversation, adding, “Because I spoke to him and in one minute, we finished this conversation, without problems. The problem is having to ask questions about it.”
The incident served as a minor reminder of Duran’s inexperience, but Emery is optimistic about the player’s growth. The Colombian has been an impactful option for Villa this season, scoring seven goals in 12 appearances, despite only starting two matches – against Wycombe Wanderers in the Carabao Cup and Bologna in the Champions League. His ability to make a difference even with limited starting opportunities suggests Duran’s potential to become a key player for Villa in the future.
Emery’s handling of the situation underscores his commitment to nurturing young talent while maintaining discipline and focus on team objectives. Villa fans are likely to see more of Duran’s dynamic style in upcoming matches, as the 20-year-old continues his promising start to the season.