Unai Emery admitted he was ‘not happy’ with Morgan Rogers’ performance before the Aston Villa star bagged twice against Manchester United
19:55, 21 Dec 2025Updated 00:33, 22 Dec 2025
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery(Image: Getty Images)
Unai Emery explained that he flung his coat to the floor after Morgan Rogers’ second goal against Manchester United as a way to release his adrenaline.
Feeling that Rogers could have performed better in the first half, Emery was delighted with his forward’s response in the second period.
The 23-year-old scored another contender for goal of the season just before the break, though Emery had wanted him to play more aggressively.
Rogers answered his manager’s wishes by scoring Villa’s second of the game – and his seventh of the campaign – by capitalising on possession in the box and once again leaving Senne Lammens helpless, curling the ball into the far corner for a second time.
“Sometimes we are brilliant collectively and individually. We need numbers from players and Morgan Rogers is playing fantastic but he started the season not getting numbers, but playing well,” Emery explained in his post-match press conference.
“He always did his task and showed commitment with his attitude. Today it was the same and he scored two goals to become the protagonist.
“He is a fighter and a good guy, a very good guy, His commitment to Villa is massive and his attitude every day is fantastic.”
Asked why he flung his own coat after Rogers’ second, Emery said: “I did it because I was not happy with how Morgan Rogers was performing. He scored a fantastic goal but we needed more.
“The second half he was doing. He started more aggressive and he scored a second goal because he was aggressive for the second action, anticipating and scoring the second goal. It was my adrenaline there for this issue.”
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