{"id":16959,"date":"2025-04-13T16:27:11","date_gmt":"2025-04-13T16:27:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/16959\/"},"modified":"2025-04-13T16:27:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-13T16:27:11","slug":"rashford-penalty-boost-emery-on-resting-rogers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/16959\/","title":{"rendered":"Rashford penalty boost + Emery on resting Rogers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mixed fortunes from the penalty spot were the story of Saturday\u2019s two matches on the south coast.<\/p>\n

While Joao Pedro<\/strong> (\u00a35.6m) converted both of his spot-kicks at the Amex, Marco Asensio<\/strong> (\u00a36.2m) failed twice from 12 yards at St Mary\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Picking the bones out of Brighton and Hove Albion 2-2 Leicester City<\/a> and Southampton 0-3 Aston Villa<\/a>, it\u2019s our latest Gameweek 32 Scout Notes.<\/p>\n

EMERY ON VILLA\u2019S PENALTY TAKERS<\/p>\n

Fantasy managers who bought Asensio for Gameweek 32 correctly anticipated that he would start. They would have no doubt also been aware that he had a good chance of taking a penalty, having done so in the UEFA Champions League last month.<\/a><\/p>\n

They were right on both fronts \u2013 but what they wouldn\u2019t have expected is for the loanee to join an unwanted club.<\/p>\n

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Marco Asensio just the fourth player to miss two penalties in a Premier League match, two decades after Juan Pablo Angel became the first in a 1-1 draw with Fulham. Darren Bent for Sunderland and Saido Berahino for #wba<\/a> the others. #avfc<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 matt maher (@mjmarr_star) April 12, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

One of Asensio\u2019s saved penalties was converted by John McGinn<\/strong> (\u00a35.2m) to at least give the Spaniard an assist and spare him the ignominy of a -1 score.<\/p>\n

Unai Emery\u2019s post-match comments on Villa\u2019s penalty-taking pecking order were interesting. They were positive and frustrating in equal measure for Marcus Rashford<\/strong> (\u00a36.7m) owners.<\/p>\n

Positive, because it sounds like Rashford is first in the queue. Frustrating, because he was taken off on Saturday two minutes before the first spot-kick award.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThey have their numbers. Firstly, it\u2019s Marcus Rashford. Second to shoot is Marco Asensio. Of course, Youri Tielemans, Ollie Watkins as well. They choose on the field like the plan is.\u201d \u2013 Unai Emery on Villa\u2019s penalty takers, to the BBC<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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\u201cWe have our penalty shooter and the first one is Marcus Rashford. The second one is Asensio. Third ones are Tielemans, McGinn and Watkins. They are responsible when penalties are coming. We have to accept it and decide for the next match.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it is normal that his challenge is to get the second one after the first one. It is clear which penalty shooter is first.\u201d \u2013 Unai Emery on Villa\u2019s penalty takers, in his post-match press conference<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

NO REST FOR ROGERS YET<\/p>\n

Emery did indeed rotate some of his team from the midweek win over Paris Saint-Germain, with Lucas Digne<\/strong> (\u00a34.5m), Pau Torres<\/strong> (\u00a34.2m), McGinn and Boubacar Kamara<\/strong> (\u00a35.0m) rested.<\/p>\n

Other anticipated starts didn\u2019t materialise, like those for Ollie Watkins<\/strong> (\u00a38.9m) and Donyell Malen<\/strong> (\u00a35.3m). Those two did at least come off the bench to score, with Watkins\u2019 controlled lob particularly excellent. The striker was also brought down for Villa\u2019s first penalty.<\/p>\n

In the middle of it all were further starts for Morgan Rogers<\/strong> (\u00a35.6m), Youri Tielemans<\/strong> (\u00a35.5m) and Emiliano Martinez<\/strong> (\u00a35.0m). They remain the only Villa players yet to be benched in the Premier League this season.<\/p>\n

All three delivered, too, with Tielemans and Rogers assisting the first two goals with sublime passes and Martinez keeping his sixth clean sheet in nine competitive matches.<\/p>\n

\"Emery<\/p>\n

Above: Aston Villa\u2019s leading players for league starts in 2024\/25<\/p>\n

Emery was asked about the seemingly undroppable two midfielders after full-time, saying there was ongoing consideration of giving them a rest but also highlighting their consistency.<\/p>\n

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\u201cSome players are showing us their consistency, playing minutes and recovering. It is not easy to play at the level we demand in matches in a row without being injured.<\/p>\n

\u201cYouri and Morgan, they are being very important and consistent. I am always analysing if we can take some minutes to rest them, but until now they are being consistent and playing the demands we need.\u201d \u2013 Unai Emery in his post-match press conference<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

In a separate interview, Emery also made it clear how important the Premier League is to Villa amid cup distractions at home and abroad.<\/p>\n

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\u201cPremier League, from day 1 to day 38, is giving us our first target in the season. Europe, usually, you are getting by Premier League position.\u201d \u2013 Unai Emery<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

THE SLOW KNIFE<\/p>\n

This was another game in which Villa took their time with the opposition. Last weekend\u2019s quick start against Nottingham Forest was a bit of an anomaly, and it was telling that Emery has seemed to value more controlled performances like Saturday\u2019s in his post-match interviews.<\/p>\n

Villa have kept things steady against the likes of Brighton, Brentford, Club Brugge, Preston and Cardiff recently, taking the sting out of the game before turning the screw in the second half. It was goalless in all five of those matches at the interval; Villa won all five.<\/p>\n

That was also the case against Southampton. Very little happened in the first hour at St Mary\u2019s, with the Statsbomb xG at a lowly 0.22-0.84 before Asensio\u2019s 69th-minute penalty.<\/p>\n

\"Emery<\/p>\n

What Emery does have is quite possibly the strongest squad in the division in terms of depth. Watkins, Malen and McGinn all came off the bench to score on Saturday, as Asensio has done previously.<\/p>\n

The Villa boss knows that if his side are well in the game come the second half, a strong bench can finish the job.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also a bonus for Fantasy managers going into Double Gameweek 33. Yes, the likes of Rashford, Asensio and Watkins may not get two starts. But as strong finishers, Villa give their substitutes chances to deliver attacking returns regardless. A total of 31 of their 49 goals this season have come in the second half.<\/p>\n

JOAO PENDRO<\/p>\n

Further along the A27, Joao Pedro was showing Asensio how it was done.<\/p>\n

Two coolly taken spot-kicks took him into double figures for Premier League goals in 2024\/25. Half of them have been penalties.<\/p>\n

In fact, in his last 20 top-flight games, he\u2019s only scored one non-penalty goal. Even that came against bottom club Southampton.<\/p>\n

BRIGHTON FRUSTRATED<\/p>\n

Brighton\u2019s season, a bit like Bournemouth\u2019s, is in danger of fizzling out. Both clubs were dumped out of the FA Cup in the quarter-finals, while both sides\u2019 league form has dipped.<\/p>\n

There is still plenty to play for, at least. Finishing eighth or ninth could even get European football next season.<\/a><\/p>\n

While they were a bit flat, Brighton still should have won this game before Leicester\u2019s fightback. Simon Adingra<\/strong> (\u00a35.1m) looped a big chance onto the bar, Yankuba Minteh <\/strong>(\u00a35.0m) missed a clear early opening, Pedro screwed wide from the edge of the box and Matt O\u2019Riley <\/strong>(\u00a35.5m) wasted two glorious opportunities, hitting the post with another shot.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In the end, though, Brighton were left hanging on after Caleb Okoli<\/strong> (\u00a34.0m) levelled it up at 2-2. The Foxes themselves hit the woodwork after Okoli\u2019s equaliser.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIf we continue playing like this, then it will be difficult to achieve our goals.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot mature enough, too naive, didn\u2019t react well on setbacks, didn\u2019t function as a team in the last 25 minutes.\u201d \u2013 Fabian Hurzeler<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

MAVIDIDI DAZZLES<\/p>\n

Not many FPL managers will be remotely interested in Leicester players but Stephy Mavididi<\/strong> (\u00a35.0m) deserves praise.<\/p>\n

The Foxes hadn\u2019t scored in eight games before Saturday; Mavididi was on the bench for all of them.<\/p>\n

Restored to Ruud van Nistelrooy\u2019s line-up, he terrorised the Brighton right flank and broke his side\u2019s 12-hour goal drought with a well-deserved goal. It was a one-man show at times and it begs the question why he hasn\u2019t been starting more often.<\/p>\n

Home games against Southampton and Ipswich Town are still to come, so he may add to his goal tally yet.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHe was excellent. He showed he wants to play for this club, he wants to fight for this club, like Kasey McAteer. Those are the players with these kinds of performances that you\u2019re building on, shaping the future.\u201d \u2013 Ruud van Nistelrooy on Stephy Mavididi, via Leicester Live<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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