Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has praised the strength of Douglas Luiz after the Brazilian was forced to withdraw at half-time due to illness.
It was another memorable matchday for Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, who recorded their 14th win of the Premier League campaign to claim fourth spot.
Not only was the blistering result against Sheffield United a showing of just how lethal the Villans can be in the final third, but the 5-0 win also broke a record that had stood for 16 years.
The five goals at Bramall Lane represented Villa’s biggest away win in the league since 2008, and Emery’s biggest away win as manager of the Midlands club to take his side just five points from the summit.
It was a record-breaking day for the visitors, as Ollie Watkins became the first player in Europe’s top five leagues to record 10+ goals and 10+ assists, and the club recorded five different goal scorers for the first time since 2009.
Despite everything being rosy for the claret and blue side of the Midlands at present, it wasn’t all cheery for all in the away dugout in South Yorkshire, as Douglas Luiz battled illness.
The Brazilian opted to withdraw at half-time due to his woes that had left him with a touch-and-go status in the build-up to kick-off; however, the midfielder chose to start.
Unai Emery hails the commitment of Douglas Luiz
Speaking to the media after his team’s win, Emery revealed the 25-year-old’s struggles prior to, and during the match.
“He didn’t feel very well before the match this morning but wanted to play because he was feeling the power to play and get the performance to help the team.
“At half-time we decided to change him because it was taking care of him and rest him because of the issues. He decided to play because he was feeling strong to help the team.”
Not many would have been able to identify the problems that the Brazil international was combatting during the fixture, as he claimed a glorious assist, as well as maintaining a passing accuracy rate of 94% and playing four key passes.
The former Manchester City outsider has contributed a host of attributes to the manager’s style of play at Villa Park, becoming an integral part of Villa’s midfield, notable once more during his 45-minute cameo against the Blades.
Luiz’s spectacular outside-of-the-foot assist to play in Watkins was lauded as “one of the assists of the season” by journalist Matt Maher, proving that even when not being 100%, Emery’s number six is one to fear for the opposition.
