Former Aston Villa midfielder, Thomas Hitzlsperger, has questioned the potential adjustments Unai Emery might consider for his starting XI, particularly concerning Jhon Duran. Duran, a Colombia international, has been in impressive form with Aston Villa, scoring four goals in just seven Premier League appearances. This remarkable performance breaks down to a goal every 46 minutes, which marks the best minutes-per-goal ratio for any player with at least 90 minutes of playtime this season. Similarly, Ollie Watkins has matched Duran’s tally by also netting four goals this season; however, he boasts a record of 19 goals and 13 assists from the last campaign, leading in league assists. Unai Emery is keen on maximizing the offensive potential within his squad but remains cautious about the possible impact on his tactical formations when considering starting both Watkins and Duran.
Unai Emery said, “I am managing the best tactical way each match playing with Watkins and then with him [Duran], sometimes together. Of course, he is going to play in the starting XI soon and as well he can play with Watkins because I think now their preparation to play together keeping our same style and demands, now I think they are ready. I have to think and to stop myself to take 10 minutes to manage the different possibilities with them [forward options].”
Thomas Hitzlsperger, speaking on the Planet Premier League podcast, said, “The fact that Emery can do various things with his squad is really impressive. Duran was about to leave in the summer and most managers would just say ‘I’m not interested in you any more, you don’t want to be part of this team – go’. Then they would tell the owners to find a new club for him. But Emery managed to put his arm around Duran and said ‘you have got quality, we need you, you can help this team’ and he has delivered sooner than expected.”
For more detailed insight into the developments at Aston Villa, refer to the original article at [Birmingham Mail](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/thomas-hitzlsperger-wades-jhon-duran-30170023).
