Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is pleased with the impact of January signings Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio after they earned a vital 2-1 win over Chelsea.
Rashford arrived on loan from Manchester United and Asensio came from Paris St Germain and the pair combined twice to inspire a come-from-behind Premier League win at Villa Park.
After falling behind to Enzo Fernandez’s early opener, Rashford was thrown on at half-time and quickly set up Asensio’s equaliser.
Who else could it be? 🤩@adidas || #UpTheVilla pic.twitter.com/iBeRUtUciS
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) February 22, 2025
Rashford was again the creator in the 89th minute as his cross was turned in by Asensio, whose saveable shot was inexplicably let in by Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen.
“The idea when we signed these players was to help us, to improve us, to show their capacity and skills, the commitment to show their work here we need,” Emery said.
“We have to set them with a task but then they have to play with their skills. I think today was very good how we saw in the second half, the performance of Marcus Rashford and Marco.
“Marco is a very good player, playing as a number 10. He can play in both positions but he can play trying to get assists and scoring goals. It was fantastic how he played.
“I think the most important thing is how they are taking responsibility in the commitment we need. Today they did fantastic (sic).
“I think today and in the last matches as well, they are getting to the level we want. They have the experiences at the highest level. Be it Marcus, Donyell [Malen] who played in the Champions League final and Asensio.”
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca says he will not lose faith in Jorgensen, despite his costly howler.
The Blues have had goalkeeper issues all season, with Jorgensen recently coming in to replace Robert Sanchez.
But Jorgensen made matters worse as he let Asensio’s shot slip through his grasp as Chelsea suffered an expensive defeat in the race for Champions League qualification.
“The keeper position is the delicate one, the striker can miss a goal but it doesn’t look so important, but then a keeper makes a mistake it is always clear, everyone can see that,” Maresca said.
“In this moment, it is not a mistake I am going to change my idea about Filip.”
It was a fourth defeat from five games in all competitions and Maresca said it was the toughest of the season.
“This is probably for me the toughest defeat of the season, the reaction from Brighton and the performance has been very good but at this moment it is not enough.
“We didn’t deserve to lose, in this league we have to be clinical. The difference is in the box. At 1-0 we had chances and we didn’t take them and at 1-1 we had chances and didn’t take them.
“At the end anything that can happen and unfortunately we lost the game.”
Jack Grealish Man CityPep Guardiola has left Jack Grealish out of Man City's squad for their final day tilt against Fulham, fuelling speculation over the winger's future. Manchester United FC v Manchester City FC - Premier LeagueWHAT HAPPENED?Grealish is scheduled for talks with the club this summer, but his omission from their crucial trip to Craven Cottage is the latest sign his future likely li...
Manchester United v Fulham - Emirates FA Cup Fifth RoundVictor Lindelof's time at Manchester United is drawing to a close as the Swedish international will leave once his contract expires.WHAT HAPPENED?Fabrizio Romano has reported that a final decision was made following a meeting this week between the club’s hierarchy and the player, marking the end of an eight-year stint at Old Trafford. D...
🔊 Can Aston Villa qualify for the Champions League for the second consecutive season? Their chances look promising, especially with Manchester United unfortunately becoming one of the main point donors in the Premier League. However, a win at Old Trafford won't be enough. They need one of the top three to drop points. Regardless, the visitors will be playing solely for the win, making the favorite...
🔊 Can Newcastle secure a top-five finish in the English Premier League? Currently sitting fourth, they are only ahead of Chelsea and Aston Villa on goal difference. This makes a win at St. James' Park crucial for the Magpies. Everton might not be in contention for anything significant, but they remain a tricky opponent. We'll explore various scenarios to make an insightful prediction. Head-to-Head...
🔊 Will Manchester City secure a spot in the Champions League by the end of the Premier League season? A victory would guarantee it. However, under certain scenarios, a draw or even a loss might suffice. Fulham, stuck in mid-table, aren't contending for anything significant. With a lack of motivation, they appear as the underdogs in this clash at London's Craven Cottage. Nonetheless, we will explor...
🔊 Can Ipswich Town wrap up their stay in the English Premier League with a victory? They're up against West Ham, a team with a decent squad but plenty of on-field issues. This gives the "Tractor Boys" a chance to delight the crowd at Portman Road, even though they aren't the favorites. We'll explore various scenarios to make a well-founded prediction.Head-to-Head📊 The only head-to-head encounter b...
🔊 Will the final round of the English Premier League serve as a dress rehearsal for the Community Shield? These very teams will compete for the trophy in August. It's a familiar scenario for Liverpool, but not so for Crystal Palace, who will make their debut in such a match. However, both teams are unlikely to be looking that far ahead, as their lineups are bound to change. More likely, players fr...
🔊 How will Leicester look without their legend, Jamie Vardy? The team is likely to undergo some restructuring, but that's a challenge for next season when the Foxes will be competing in the Championship. Bournemouth, on the other hand, will remain in the Premier League, though their squad could see significant changes due to increased demand for their players. In this upcoming clash, neither team ...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Enzo Maresca now The Arsenal of Italy When you see it… Arteta really thinks this. The difference The last time Man United won a European Trophy was when they played against… Andre Onana! James Maddison had a big night Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, originaltrollfootball, FootballLaughss, PL__OOC...
Kyle Walker's decline led to him being cast aside by Pep Guardiola, before he joined AC Milan in January. Since then, it has been Matheus Nunes and Rico Lewis that have operated at right-back, but Man City are keen for a specialist to be brought in during the summer. And they have now set their sights on one of the Premier League's brightest talents.Man City identify Tino Livramento as leading rig...
- 1 Man City withdraw and Liverpool could steal
- 2 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 3 Man City target right-back Tino Livramento
- 4 Liverpool vs Crystal Palace Prediction 25 May 2025
- 5 Man United man makes stunning claim
- 6 Tottenham vs Manchester United Prediction 22 May 2025
- 7 Goodbye Jack Grealish?! Pep Guardiola axes Man City star from squad for crucial Fulham clash as transfer talk continues to swirl
- 8 Eberechi Eze is at it again as he helps Crystal Palace to victory against Wolves
- 9 Liverpool considering transfer swoop
- 10 Manchester United vs Aston Villa Prediction 25 May 2025