Tim Sherwood has stated that Emiliano Buendia ‘looks like a new player’ under Unai Emery, after spending a lot of time on the bench under Steven Gerrard.
Many Villa fans were frustrated when Emiliano Buendia would constantly warm the bench under Steven Gerrard, even when Philippe Coutinho would struggle and the team were crying out for a player to connect things in the middle of the park.
Well, Gerrard got the boot for his abject coaching, but now, Villa have a trophy-winning and world-class coach in their dugout and he has transformed their season.
From hovering above the relegation zone to an outside chance of Champions League football, there is a real chance the season could get even better.
Everyone has played their part and Tim Sherwood was sure to give his flowers to those that have performed ever so well, as he told Premier League Productions (16/04/23 at 9:55 pm).
“That place is bouncing,” said Sherwood. “These fans can be incredible when things are going well. It can be very difficult when things are not. It takes a brave player to go and play there.
“But, at the moment, he has set them up brilliantly. Across the midfield. They have four central-midfielders. McGinn is playing off one side. Ramsey off the other.
“They are running behind Ollie Watkins. He is staying at the width of the post. He’s stopped him coming towards the ball. He is creating space for Buendia, who looks like a new player.
“Before he come into the football club. Everyone was saying ‘we have a lot of deadwood here. We are going to have to change a lot of players’. Not anymore – they are right in the mix for the Europa League and an outside chance of the Champions League. It’s an incredible job Unai Emery has done. Congratulations.”
BEUNDIA AN UNSUNG HERO
When Dean Smith was in the Villa dugout, Buendia earned a maiden call to the Argentina squad, before he wasn’t even mentioned during Gerrard’s reign.
Yet, fast forward to the present and Villa’s unsung hero recently returned to the international stage.
A player of outstanding close control, with the ability to keep the game ticking and an underrated talent to win the ball back in defence, Buendia is finally showcasing his talents now that he is being used properly.
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