Unai Emery has set high expectations for Douglas Luiz as Aston Villa targets European competition. During matches, Emery’s frequent discussions with Luiz stress his central role. “Douglas, you are a key player for us,” Emery states, emphasizing Luiz’s importance in maintaining Villa’s tactical approach
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Beyond praises, Emery directly points out errors to Luiz. “He lost the first two balls in the second half… You have to correct that now,” he noted after one game, highlighting his approach to enhance Luiz’s performance and discipline.
This season, Luiz has become indispensable, scoring 10 goals and adapting to a deeper role due to team injuries. His ability to score and adapt is critical as Villa pushes for European qualification. However, his aggressive play has led to numerous yellow cards, prompting Emery to refine his discipline on the field.
Douglas Luiz has been a standout player for @AVFCOfficial this season, but the midfielder misses today's trip to @Arsenal through suspension…
What tactics could Unai Emery employ to fill the gap?
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 14, 2024
Still Emery notes Luiz’s growth and adaptability: “His commitment to the team is increasing and I like how he’s been… I want to watch players performing in each practice, trying to improve and learn.” This commitment to continuous improvement is central to Emery’s strategy as Villa contends for a place in European competitions.
Remembering Zagallo
Sambafoot Series launched a new documentary about the football legend Zagallo. Known as ‘Velho Lobo‘ and as superstitious as it gets, Zagallo helped shape what Brazilian football is nowadays — as a player and as a coach.
The first three episodes are available on Sambafoot’s Youtube channel. Stay tuned for the upcoming releases as we keep telling this legend’s life story.
