Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has lavished praise on defender Victor Lindelof, labelling his performance as "fantastic" after a crucial 3-2 comeback victory away at West Ham United.
Lindelof steps up in Torres' absence
The match, played on Sunday afternoon at the London Stadium, saw the experienced Swedish international fill in for the injured Pau Torres. Lindelof, a summer free-agent signing from Manchester United, was deployed as the left-sided centre-back, a tactically demanding role in Emery's system that typically requires a left-footed player to progress the ball.
Despite being naturally right-footed, Lindelof delivered an exceptionally composed performance. He was instrumental in Villa's build-up play from the back, successfully managing the passes required to break through West Ham's lines. His contribution was capped with a crucial assist for Morgan Rogers' stunning 25-yard winner, which sealed the three points for the visitors.
Emery's post-match verdict
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Emery was effusive in his praise for the defender's display. "Fantastic, fantastic," the Villa head coach stated. "We signed him for it. He showed his experience today. Playing in our structure, he was comfortable and calm with the ball in the build-up."
Emery acknowledged the difficulty of the task, saying, "It is not easy in the build-up on the left side when he is right-footed. He managed the passes we needed from him to the next players. He did fantastic." The Spaniard also highlighted the team's resilience, noting they defended with possession in the final 20 minutes, a mentality he is keen to instil, despite conceding an early goal from a mistake in possession.
A vital victory and a proven signing
The result marks a significant away win for Aston Villa in the Premier League. Lindelof's performance, in a position not naturally his own, underscores both his versatility and the strategic acumen behind his acquisition. Emery's explicit linking of the display to the reason for his signing ("We signed him for it") validates the club's summer business and points to the defender's growing importance within the squad.
This unsung heroic display from Victor Lindelof proved to be the foundation upon which Aston Villa's dramatic turnaround at West Ham was built.
