Aston Villa breathed a sigh of relief securing a point against Chelsea amidst late drama, with criticism directed at two typically dependable Villa players for their performances.
Aston Villa found relief in securing a point against Chelsea amidst late drama, though criticism targeted two typically reliable Villa players for their performances. Despite facing a Mauricio Pochettino-led side struggling for consistency this season, Villa encountered formidable opposition from the Blues, exacerbating their own woes by squandering a two-goal lead in the second half.
In injury time, the tension peaked when Axel Disasi’s euphoric celebration of what seemed a winning goal was dashed by VAR’s intervention. While VAR and Craig Pawson’s decisions salvaged Villa, the draw didn’t shield certain players from post-match scrutiny.
John McGinn and Douglas Luiz were significantly off their game in the Aston Villa versus Chelsea 2-2 draw.
The hosts were cruising in the game until Youri Tielemans was substituted due to injury in the 27th minute, disrupting the midfield dynamics as John McGinn stepped in for the Belgian alongside Douglas Luiz. Subsequently, Chelsea’s midfielders began to assert themselves, leading to Villa losing control, an uncharacteristic display from the club captain and the Brazilian midfielder. Journalist Dan Bardell critiqued the disjointed midfield partnership on the 1874 podcast, stating, “Luiz and McGinn seemed disconnected throughout the game. They lacked fluid passing and seemed distant from each other on the field.”
Unai Emery needs to witness a better performance from his midfield.
The worry now is just how bad Tielemans’ injury is as he went off in the first half clutching his groin, with Emery not wanting to be without the in-form Belgian for an extensive period.
When the 26-year-old left the game, so did Villa’s structure in midfield, as highlighted by the below-par numbers that McGinn and Luiz recorded during the fixture, seen below.
McGinn and Luiz, typically reliable figures for Villa, had an off day against Chelsea, a performance unexpected from such seasoned players.
It’s hoped that both players will return to their usual standards in Thursday’s clash against Olympiacos, as Villa prepares for the Europa Conference League semi-final’s first leg at Villa Park.