Sport nationAmadou Onana: Embracing the Tactical Nuances of Unai Emery’s Aston Villa
In a summer of significant transfers, Amadou Onana’s move from Everton to Aston Villa for £50 million raised eyebrows. The Belgian midfielder has wasted no time in justifying his price tag, scoring two goals in his first three games for the Midlands club. As Onana settles into his new surroundings, he has opened up about the differences between his old and new clubs, particularly in terms of playing style and training.
Speaking to Het Laatste Nieuws, Onana revealed that Aston Villa’s training sessions under Unai Emery are longer and more tactical than what he experienced under Sean Dyche at Everton. “This is just a different style of football,” Onana said. “We have to be at the club at half past nine. The training starts at eleven o’clock. We train for a long time. Unai Emery is truly a tactical freak. As a result, the training sessions can sometimes take a long time, but I prefer this.”
Onana’s preference for Emery’s approach is evident in his praise for the Villa manager’s attention to detail. “Here we play more on ball possession. You usually stay on the ball much longer. Sean Dyche wanted to see more direct football. Long balls. Lots of second balls. We also play a bit more on ball possession with the national team, and I get the ball more. Suits me a little bit better.”
The contrast between Emery and Dyche’s approaches is striking. While Dyche’s Everton focused on direct football and quick transitions, Emery’s Villa emphasizes possession-based football. Onana’s comfort in this system is evident in his performances, which have earned him recognition, including a spot in Troy Deeney’s BBC Sport team of the week.
Onana’s move to Villa was not without its suitors. Manchester United, Arsenal, and Barcelona were all linked with the Belgian midfielder, but Villa was the first to make a move. “It is the fourth in the Premier League. With a top coach. With top players. It is a top club. I think I am where I should be. I made good use of the European Championships to take this step. I performed well there.”
As Onana continues to adapt to his new surroundings, his comments suggest that he has made the right decision in joining Villa. The club’s ambition, combined with Emery’s tactical acumen, provides Onana with the perfect platform to showcase his skills. With his performances on the pitch and his thoughts off it, Onana is quickly becoming an integral part of the Villa squad.
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