Tim Cahill has claimed that Anwar El Ghazi was ‘scared of getting hurt’ as he missed a guilt-edge chance to score during Aston Villa’s draw with Everton yesterday.
The former Australia international thinks El Ghazi should have tried to put Jack Grealish’s cross away with ‘purpose and ‘conviction’, as he told Sky Sports Premier League (16/07/20 at 8:00 pm).
Villa were leading 1-0 when El Ghazi made a mess of a brilliant cross from the left by Grealish – not long after, Theo Walcott equalised as Dean Smith’s men dropped vital points in their relegation fight.
After the conclusion of yesterday’s game at Goodison Park, Cahill shared his thoughts on El Ghazi’s miss.
“Scared of getting hurt,” Cahill told Sky Sports. “For me, in this situation, you have two strikers sitting here right now [Cahill himself and Dion Dublin]. We take the ball, the goalkeeper, and anything in our path, out. With a purpose and with conviction.
“But he went into that a little bit afraid. I know he has put himself in a good position. But it’s not about that now. If it’s between staying up or going down, it’s chances like that.”
This isn’t the first time that El Ghazi has missed such an opportunity this season – Liverpool at home was another example of him missing from close range.
Whilst El Ghazi’s miss against Everton proved to be costly. There are other factors behind why Villa are heading back to the Championship.
They need a lot of things to go their way if they are to survive, but from a realistic standpoint, they will be playing in the second-tier next season.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
