Aston Villa manager Unai Emery delivered a passionate and nuanced assessment of Morgan Rogers' performance following his side's dramatic 2-1 victory over Manchester United at Villa Park on Sunday.
The Adrenaline-Fuelled Reaction
Emery's iconic celebration, which saw him tear off his jacket and throw it into the air, came after Rogers' second goal proved to be the winner. The manager later explained this outburst was a release of built-up "adrenaline" stemming from his dissatisfaction with the attacking midfielder's first-half display, despite Rogers having already scored a spectacular opener.
"Yeah, it was my adrenaline! I needed to show my adrenaline in a different way!" Emery exclaimed in the post-match press conference. "I did it because in the first half, I was not happy with Morgan Rogers, how he was performing. He scored a fantastic goal, but we needed more."
A Demanding Standard Drives Improvement
Emery clarified that Rogers responded perfectly after the break, showing the aggression his manager demanded. This led directly to the decisive second goal. "In the second half, he was doing [better], he started more aggressively and he scored the second goal because he was aggressive for the second action. And my adrenaline was for this decision," the head coach continued.
This incident is emblematic of Emery's demanding coaching style, which has been pivotal in Rogers' development. The manager notably ignored fans' calls to substitute the player during a difficult Europa League outing against Bologna in September, deliberately exposing him to pressure to accelerate his growth.
From Early Struggles to Prolific Form
Rogers' brace against United marks a stunning turnaround from a challenging start to the campaign for both player and club. Aston Villa failed to score in their first four Premier League matches. However, Rogers is now in scintillating form, having scored three braces in his last six league appearances.
Emery praised the player's consistent attitude and work ethic, which laid the foundation for this prolific run. "He started as well the season not getting numbers, but playing well, always doing his task, always with the commitment he's showing," Emery said. "Today he did the same and he scored goals... he is a real fighter."
The victory was Aston Villa's tenth consecutive win across all competitions and their eleventh in the last twelve Premier League fixtures, solidifying their remarkable form under the Spanish tactician.
