Unai Emery Delivers Verdict on Leon Bailey's Aston Villa Return
Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery has expressed his satisfaction with Leon Bailey's performance since the winger rejoined the squad last month, but has issued a clear challenge for him to start delivering more tangible contributions on the pitch.
Bailey's Loan Recall and Emery's Explanation
Bailey was recalled from his loan spell at AS Roma in January after facing fitness issues that limited his playing time in Italy. This move came despite Emery's initial plan to keep Bailey in Rome, with Evann Guessand subsequently moving to Crystal Palace on loan as part of the reshuffle.
Ahead of Villa's upcoming match against Leeds United, Emery explained the decision to bring Bailey back into the fold. "He loves football, and he loves it here," Emery stated. "The year he was here, and when we decided, with him as well, to leave from here, he was having other experiences he had before in Germany, and then he had experiences in Rome."
"He was missing something - something in the moment he had here with us, and it was not our idea to recover him to play with us here. But we decided because some circumstances helped us to take this decision, and now he is completely committed with us, with Aston Villa."
Emery's Challenge for Improved Output
Emery highlighted Bailey's renewed dedication, noting that the player himself wanted to return and embrace the challenge of regaining his best form. "He wanted to come back again and to be with us at Aston Villa, our training sessions, his teammates, the coaches, and the manager, and he decided himself to get again the challenge," Emery said.
"The challenge himself with us to try to recover his best form, confidence, feeling comfortable with us, and now the challenge he has is still being for him and for us, to get his best, to help us with his qualities and his commitment."
However, Emery emphasized that Bailey needs to translate his efforts into measurable results. "I want to add his numbers to us, scoring goals, assists, playing tactically like we need," Emery remarked when asked about areas for improvement.
"Leon Bailey, it is necessary in our structure to try to exploit his qualities, helping us to get more points and through numbers, scoring goals, assists, and working."
Bailey's Recent Involvement and Team Dynamics
Since his return, Bailey has featured in Villa's last four Premier League matches and started in the FA Cup tie against Newcastle United, where he was substituted tactically after Marco Bizot's red card.
Emery stressed the importance of squad strength and collective objectives, adding, "I am now so, so happy how the players are committed in everything, working every day, every player. We must be together, because to keep our good form in Europe or in the Premier League is going to be very, very important for everybody."
"But we need as well our squad strong, with the players playing more minutes or less, but always ready to play to help, even playing less than they should want."
Emery concluded by reaffirming his happiness with Bailey's response so far, but the message is clear: the winger must now step up his goal and assist contributions to help Aston Villa achieve their season targets.
