Unai Emery hails Austin MacPhee’s impact as Aston Villa thrive from set pieces | OneFootball

Unai Emery has praised the influence of set-piece specialist Austin MacPhee on Aston Villa’s season.

According to ExpressAndStar.com, MacPhee’s remit has grown since Emery arrived three-and-a-half years ago, having first been appointed under Dean Smith in 2021.

Villa have scored 13 times from set plays, the fifth-most in the top flight. A rehearsed free-kick produced John McGinn’s opener in the 2-0 win at West Ham before the international break.

Emery said he is delighted with MacPhee’s work and the players’ commitment to executing plans in attack and defence. He noted frequent meetings with MacPhee and the squad to drill into details, adding that the benefits are visible on the pitch.

Villa now step up for Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first leg in Bologna, their first outing in more than two-and-a-half weeks since that win. Winger Jadon Sancho will miss out with a shoulder injury sustained in a 2-1 friendly defeat to Elche during a warm-weather camp.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com