YAN Valery admitted that he was “not really happy because I like to attack,” when first asked to play centre-back by Ralph Hasenhuttl, but says he’s now realised the boss was right.
The 22-year-old became the man of the moment as Saints held on to a 1-1 draw with Tottenham despite having just 10 men on the field for over a half of football.
Frenchman Valery was making his first Premier League appearance of the season and only his second ever senior game as a central-defender, in a trio with Jan Bednarek and Mohammed Salisu.
He had also started and performed admirably in the same system during the EFL Cup contest at Chelsea, which ended with a 1-1 draw and a narrow penalty defeat, but this time he was thrown even further into the deep end.
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Salisu’s sending off for a second yellow after 40 minutes, paired with the fact Lyanco and Jack Stephens remained out with positive COVID tests, meant that Valery had to operate as a centre-back in a pairing for a first ever time.
Mohammed Salisu was already having an early bath by the time his teammates came in for half-time (Pic: Stuart Martin)
The resultant Harry Kane penalty aside, Saints were able to shut out the undoubted quality that also included the likes of Heung-min Son and substitute Lucas Moura until Anthony Taylor’s final whistle.
“Obviously I never played there so I know I can do better with more games,” Valery modestly reflected, speaking to the Daily Echo at full-time.
Considering the circumstances, glad we were able to stay disciplined to keep a point. Feel good to be back playing at St Mary’s in front of our crowd. We end the year on a positive note. 🤲🏽🤲🏽 #IDQIS pic.twitter.com/Atv4sSXyGW
— Yan Valery (@yan_valery) December 28, 2021
“But yeah, I was really happy, I’m really happy with the defence and how they were talking to me, Kyle (Walker-Peters) at right-back as well.
“It was good for a first time so like I said I am really happy with the point and not conceding a goal in the second-half.”
Yan Valery made a solid pairing with Jan Bednarek as Ralph Hasenhuttl left Dynel Simeu on the bench (Pic: Stuart Martin)
Valery continued: “To be honest, the first time against Chelsea I was not really happy because I really like to attack.
“But he (Hasenhuttl) told me that I can do it and he knows why he’s pushing me there.
The French defender's last appearance came in the EFL Cup at Chelsea in October (Pic: PA)
“After I played against Chelsea I was like ‘okay, it’s fine actually', and when I went on the pitch today I knew I had to do the same as against Chelsea but better and yeah, I was just ready to do it.”
Valery – who has made 44 first-team appearances for Saints since progressing through the academy at Staplewood – has even been used as a right-midfielder before by Hasenhuttl.
Yan Valery has watched from the bench in all but three of Saints' Premier League fixtures this campaign (Pic: Stuart Martin)
The youngster also had an opportunity to practice what looks like his new role with David Horseman’s B team, back at the start of November.
Valery, like Nathan Tella and Will Smallbone also have this term, featured for the under-23 setup in Premier League 2 as a centre-back during the 5-0 demolition of Newcastle, a week after the Chelsea clash.
The former France under-18 international reveals that he was asked by staff if he’d be willing to help out on that occasion, and added that he didn’t need much convincing.
When I see winter coming 😒❄️ pic.twitter.com/nFq8ngnFvC
— Yan Valery (@yan_valery) November 3, 2021
“No, they just asked me,” Valery continued. “And at the time they said you can experience a bit more playing as a centre-back.
“I thought ‘okay, I need some gametime’, and now in today’s game I was more used to playing as a centre-back, so I just thought why not get the experience?”
