Since Unai Emery took charge at Aston Villa, a number of players have left the Birmingham side, but near enough all have struggled to find their form elsewhere. The standout exception is Donyell Malen, who is making waves with a flurry of goals at Roma. This summer saw a mass exodus of pivotal players heading off to top sides like Manchester United and Chelsea, and the initial weeks of the new season seem to be confirming the fears of the Villa faithful.
One of the most telling cases has been midfielder Youri Tielemans. The Belgian has yet to find his footing at Manchester United, facing intense scrutiny from fans. While Emery’s structured play managed to mask Tielemans' mobility issues, under Michael Carrick's tactical approach, those shortcomings have become glaringly obvious. According to WhoScored, his average rating at United sits at 6.84, a dip from the 7.03 he earned last season while with the Villans.
Defender Lucas Digne is also experiencing a tough time. Having moved to PSG, he has made only two substitute appearances in Ligue 1 and the Champions League, prompting discontent among the Parisians, who accuse him of simply coasting through the latter stages of his career.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, meanwhile, is holding his own at Chelsea, although he has been guilty of parrying shots directly into dangerous areas. His rating has slipped to 6.78, while Zeon Suzuki, who succeeded him at Villa Park, boasts a rating of 6.93.
The lone bright spot remains winger Morgan Rogers, for whom Chelsea forked out a hefty £116 million. Rogers has already netted three goals and provided an assist, achieving an impressive average rating of 7.38.
It's been a painful exit for the Birmingham supporters as they watch their leaders struggle to hit the heights without Emery's guidance, with most yet to elevate their games to a significantly higher level.
