Aston Villa manager Unai Emery expressed great satisfaction with the performances of teenagers Brian Madjo and George Hemmings following their notable displays in the UEFA Super Cup match against Paris Saint-Germain, which Villa narrowly lost.
Due to several key absences, Emery included both young players in his starting eleven. Regular starters Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa, and Emi Martinez were all given four weeks’ rest after their World Cup commitments, while Alejandro Garnacho was sidelined due to concussion protocols and Johan Manzambi was out with a knee injury.
Madjo stepped up to score Villa’s equaliser just before half-time. After missing earlier opportunities, he skilfully contested with Nuno Mendes at the back post before finishing past goalkeeper Matvéi Safónov. Meanwhile, Hemmings impressed by operating from the left flank and finding dangerous spaces, reminiscent of previous Villa talents like Morgan Rogers and Jacob Ramsey.
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Reflecting on Hemmings’ progress, Emery noted: “Last season he played against Salzburg, but I needed to substitute him in the first half as he was a bit nervous during his first experience at that level. Today, he showed more confidence and played in a position we have prepared him for. Now is the time for him to stay consistent and keep pushing. There is still plenty of work and matches ahead.”
Regarding Madjo, the manager added: “He has been part of our squad work last season but had not played matches. We prepared him to perform as he did today. There is still room for improvement, but he demonstrated that he is close to being ready to compete with us.”
Emery was also proud of the team’s overall effort, considering the challenging circumstances and limited squad options available. He said: “Today was just our second pre-season match, but it was one with a trophy at stake. We chose to field players who were fit and ready, tactically prepared through our recent work. We managed the players carefully, resting those who had played until the end of the World Cup - such as Watkins, Konsa, and Martinez - because they are vital to us and need proper recovery.”
Drawing on his own experiences, Emery emphasised the importance of careful player management to avoid mistakes in demanding situations. He concluded: “We have been working to prepare Hemmings and Brian to play and compete at this level. They showed today that they can be part of the team, though there is still work to be done.”