Champions: The new life of Marco Asensio with Unai Emery: A luxury transfer for Aston Villa | Champions League 2024

The only game he had played as a starting this season at the Champions League went back to November 6. It was against Atlétic Kang-in Lee. Today, four months later, Marco Asensio He will form the start in the round of the eighths before the witches. But not with the PSG shirt, but with that of Aston Villa. Not at the orders of Luis Enrique but to those of Unai Emery. Not as a striker, but in the position of ’10’.

For just one month, Asensio looks like another footballer in Birmingham, where he arrived as assigned, becoming the icing on the cake of Monchi. Previously, the sports director had already closed the signings of Donyell Malenfor which he paid 25 million euros to Dortmund, and Andrés Garcíathe promising left -handed side from Levante. Also the assignment of Marcus Rashfordthat overwhelming talent that could never develop in Manchester United. But unlike the rest, Asensio was almost an obsession for Emery, which had burned him calls from weeks ago.

«I talked many times with Unai and transmitted many things to me: how the coaching staff works, how their players were, what is Villa Park. I was confirmed by the confidence he had in the club and what he was creating, ”said former Madrid player shortly after landing in Birmingham. It was not the first time that the former Sevilla coach asked about him. He already did it in the summer of 2023, when his Aston Villa had achieved the ticket for the conference League. But the third continental competition did not seem precisely appealing.

18 minutes since December

Luis Enrique’s brand new project seemed much more in accordance with a whole champion of Tres Champions. However, trauma in the right foot would complicate its first year in Paris. This season, Asturian’s confidence was reduced to the minimum expression. Just 16 games, 10 as a starter, between August and January. Since December, only 18 minutes in 11 commitments. In principle, the PSG only thought of a transfer, since it had reached the six assignments allowed by UEFA. At the last minute, after transferring Dear ndour From Besiktas to Fiorentina, they achieved free via for Asensio.

«I talked with a framework about the possibility of playing as number 10 because it is versatile. You can also act by band and inside. The challenge is to extract your best football within our structure, ”admitted the Guipuzcoan coach. It was not just about continuing with the progression of young people Jacob Ramsey y Morgan Rogers. Nor to continue strengthening Ollie Watkins (13 goals and 11 assists). Emery’s attack had to orbit around Asensio.

To the base of the FA cup

During his aforementioned interview with the Daily Mirror Asensio did not hesitate to explain the reasons guided to Villa Park. “One of the keys was that Unai told me that he saw me as number 10.” Located in that position, he already formed in the start of 2-2 against Liverpool. Only three days later I would scored two goals against Chelsea (2-1) and last Friday, another double against Cardiff in the fifth round of the FA Cup. Since the crossroads will be decided against the Preston North End and since between the Big 6 only Manchester City survives, it doesn’t seem unreasonable to think that Emery could guide the Villains to his first cupo title since 1957.

The immediate step, however, has to occur today at Jan Breydel against the Bruges, an opponent who already surprised them in the league (1-0). That night will always be remembered by the grotesque error of the central Tyrone Mingswho took the ball in the area with his hand after a serve with the foot of Emiliano Martínez. Only three weeks ago, the Belgian picture erased the atalanta in Bergamo under the leadership of Chemsdine Talbia 19 -year -old striker. The global 5-2 in the playoff Before the current Europa League champion must put Emery on notice. Not only because it is the first European Cup tie for the Aston Villa in almost four decades, but because in the quarterfinals they would wait for Liverpool or the PSG.