Aston Villa forward Donyell Malen expressed his astonishment at teammate Morgan Rogers' match-winning free-kick that secured a vital victory against Leeds United at Elland Road.
Rogers' Brilliance Secures Villa Victory
The England international, Morgan Rogers, was the undisputed hero of the match, scoring both of Villa's goals in a hard-fought contest. His first came from a clever near-post flick, expertly assisted by second-half substitute Donyell Malen, to beat goalkeeper Lucas Perri.
Malen, who entered the fray at the start of the second half alongside Ian Maatsen, made an immediate impact. The decisive moment, however, arrived 15 minutes from time. Another substitute, Ross Barkley, won a free-kick in a dangerous position, setting the stage for Rogers.
"I Didn't Know He Had That Quality" - Malen's Honest Admission
Rogers stepped up and delivered a spectacular set-piece, dipping the ball over the wall and under the crossbar to score his first Premier League brace. After the final whistle, Malen was full of praise but admitted his surprise.
"It was an amazing free-kick," Malen said. "He is a good player. The first goal he scored was a good finish. With the free-kick, I didn't even know he had that quality to be honest. The way he hit it was very similar to Buendia. I wasn't with them the last couple of days when they were training set pieces. Maybe he practiced it, maybe he didn't. But it went in, beautiful."
Villa's Form and Future Ambitions
This victory marks Aston Villa's sixth win in their last seven league games, a run of scintillating form that includes nine victories in their last 11 matches across all competitions. The result propels Villa to within just two points of second-placed Chelsea.
When questioned about the possibility of challenging league leaders Arsenal, Malen remained focused. "I don't know how many points they have, to be honest. We have to keep going, game by game, to keep this streak going. From there, we will see," he commented.
He also highlighted the positive atmosphere at the club, a key reason why players like Rogers, who recently signed a new contract until 2031, are committing their futures. "I think everyone is happy to be here and that is why they have signed contracts," Malen added. "The way we are performing, the energy in the dressing room and on the training ground, the whole team is having fun, so it's good."
Malen credited the team's dramatic turnaround in form to the clear and honest direction from the coach. "Our coach was very honest and straight with us that we had to turn it around. Sometimes football is a rollercoaster and you never know what is going to happen. We worked really hard to turn it around and we did," he concluded.
