Unai Emery has truly transformed the fortunes of several Aston Villa players, and one of those is Douglas Luiz.
Unai Emery has transformed Ollie Watkins into one of Europe’s most deadly strikers.
He’s dragged Leon Bailey from zero to hero in a matter of months with the Jamaican having the season of his life.
It could be argued, though, that the most impressive transformation of them all has been Douglas Luiz.
When Emery arrived at the club, he was seen as a number 6, a midfield anchor whose sole purpose was to win possession back and protect the defence.
Now, he’s matching – or even surpassing – some of the leagues best attacking midfielders after being afforded the license to roam forward under the Spaniard.
Douglas Luiz is performing at the same level as Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes has become recognised as one of the most potent attacking midfielders on the planet for club and country.
In a Manchester United side marred by turmoil, he so often drags them through matches and has shown his ability as a creative and goalscoring demon.
Luiz is now a similar figurehead at Aston Villa, reflected by how much he’s blossomed as an attacking force under Emery.
Since his appointment in November 2022, as per Transfermarkt, he’s plundered 11 goals and supplied eight assists in 45 appearances having only managed 16 goal contributions in a Villa shirt before his arrival.
Only Martin Odegaard (16) has scored more goals than him in the same time frame while Luiz’s combined total of goals and assists (19) puts him on par with Fernandes.
No longer a defensive midfielder in a rigid system, the 25-year-old floats between the lines and produces when Villa need him to.
In their last two matches, he’s scored an 89th-minute penalty against Burnley and supplied the assist for Matty Cash against Middlesbrough.
Speaking of his transformation, he told Sky Sports last month: “I still have the No 6 shirt, but I don’t actually play as a No 6. Unai’s arrival changed my way of playing.”
How good can Luiz become?
Luiz hasn’t just come of age as an attacking weapon, he was unleashed into this role towards the back end of last season and has since sustained a high level of consistency.
Given he’s matching some of the league’s best attacking midfielders, it is a testament to his progression that he’s no longer considered a realistic transfer target.
He’s approaching the border of world-class with his performances and if he can help Villa glean silverware this term, he may be placed into that category.
There will be those out there who still think of him as a no.6, but Emery has remoulded him into an exceptional attacking midfielder and in turn, transformed him into a player worth three figures.
