Aston Villa fans will be waking up on Thursday morning wondering if their 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League was all a dream.
In fact, that could be true of the past two years under Unai Emery as the Spanish manager continues to show his brilliance at Aston Villa.
Bayern Munich won their first Champions League match of the season 9-2 against Dinamo Zagreb so Villa were under no illusions regarding just how difficult the Villa Park clash would be.
And yet, they rose to that challenge to a man in an incredible performance helped by Emery’s clear game plan to exploit the big spaces Bayern tend to leave in behind.
After Ollie Watkins had run Dayot Upamecano ragged, it was Jhon Duran who profited off this approach as he was played in behind by Pau Torres before firing over the onrushing Manuel Neuer to secure a historic win.
Unai Emery ruthless with Leon Bailey substitution in Aston Villa vs Bayern Munich
There was one surprise when the lineups were announced on Wednesday evening as Jaden Philogene was thrown in for his first start since returning to the club in the summer.
This was a huge call from Emery with Philogene playing Championship football with Hull City last season, but it was one that paid off as Philogene constantly caused the Bayern defence problems.
The game plan was altered somewhat when Jacob Ramsey had to come off injured in the first-half, with Leon Bailey replacing the local boy on 27 minutes.
This move saw Philogene move across to Ramsey’s left midfield position and Bailey line-up on the right.
Emery is an incredibly proactive manager, but he showed a real ruthless streak as he then substituted Bailey off on 60 minutes – just 33 minutes after coming on – despite the fact he was not injured.
The tactical change saw the Jamaican replaced by Ian Maatsen in a slightly humiliating decision as far as Bailey will be concerned.
Emery’s substitutions paid off as Aston Villa beat Bayern Munich
Emery utilised his bench in the win over Bayern and the changes he was able to make highlighted the importance of having a deep squad at the top level.
As well as Bailey replacing Ramsey and subsequently being replaced by Maatsen, Ross Barkley replaced Amadou Onana and Duran replaced Watkins.
Each substitute played their part on a night that will live long in the memories of Villa fans, but none more so than Duran.
The Colombian has turned his Villa career around emphatically this season and netted a fourth winner of the campaign from the bench against Bayern.
The power with which he ran in behind before firing past Neuer showed the confidence coursing through Duran’s veins currently as he netted his sixth goal of the season.
Whilst Bailey may not be too happy, Emery showed a side of him we have not seen before at Villa and he reaped the rewards for his ruthlessness.
