Unai Emery said Aston Villa targeted Manuel Neuer’s sweeper-keeper habits after Jhon Durán lobbed the Bayern Munich goalkeeper to record a famous Champions League victory.
Durán, on as a substitute in place of Ollie Watkins, scored a superb late winner to beat the six-time winners by a single goal, a replica of their 1982 European Cup final triumph against the same team in Rotterdam.
Emiliano Martínez, who saved superbly in second-half stoppage time to prevent Harry Kane heading in an equaliser, said the manager Unai Emery showed his players various clips of Bayern’s captain positioning himself high up the pitch.
“In the analysis we did of them [Bayern], we were aware, we were speaking a lot about how the position of Neuer is usually always high,” the Villa manager confirmed. “I knew how he [Durán] would shoot because he had in his mind this possibility with Neuer.”
Martínez praised super sub Durán, who has scored five goals off the bench this season, including winners against West Ham, Everton and Leicester. “He came back with a different mentality this season,” said the Villa goalkeeper. “He’s willing to work hard, he’s pushing Ollie all the way, they can play together, he’s a super sub, the first time he touched the ball, he lobbed Neuer, one of the best goalies in history.”
The Villa forward Morgan Rogers added of Durán: “When I came to the club I didn’t have a clue he was 20. The way he plays, he’s such a handful for defenders when he comes on with all that energy. He knows he’ll get that chance and backs himself 100%. Every game is exactly the same; he’s the most chilled, relaxed person I’ve ever met. He’s a different animal when he’s playing.”
Vincent Kompany, the Bayern manager, said Jamal Musiala did not start the match because he reported an issue after last Sunday’s draw with Bayer Leverkusen. “We had great chances but we couldn’t score a goal, that is football,” Kompany said. “It is bitter to take but of course it [defeat] won’t be decisive for the outcome of our Champions League. We just have to carry on working to make sure we are successful.”
