‘HEND PRODUCT IS STILL THERE’
Aston Villa v Ajax Europa Conference, Round of 16, 2nd Leg, 0-0 on aggregate, KO 8pm BY BRENDAN MCLOUGHLIN UNAI EMERY reckons Jordan Henderson is still Premier League class as the Ajax midfielder returns to English soil with his club tonight.
Emery’s Aston Villa host the Dutch giants in the last 16 of the Europa Conference League this evening, with the tie goalless after the first leg a week ago.
Henderson (top) impressed Emery in that game and now he will play his first domestic game on these shores since his controversial move to mega-rich Saudi club Al-ettifaq from Liverpool last summer.
That move quickly turned sour, with the former Reds skipper, who is hoping for a place in Gareth Southgate’s England Euro 2024 squad, making a surprise move to Ajax in January.
Emery (below) admitted: “I respect him a lot. I spent time analysing him at Liverpool.
“Always his performances were fantastic, even last week he played fantastic. “He’s very intelligent, he knows how he has to play in possession and he’s very good in the press.”
Villa defender Matty Cash echoed Emery’s views on the 33-year-old, who led Liverpool to Premier League and Champions League glory.
Asked if he is still performing at the level needed for the English top flight, Cash said: “Yes, he is a fantastic player. His CV speaks for itself.
“He was captain of a great club like Liverpool for many years and everyone knows the leadership he brings.”
Emery has backed John Mcginn to brush aside his sending off in Sunday’s
4-0 drubbing by Tottenham, which dealt a blow to Villa’s Champions League hopes.
The Villa boss added: “I can’t say anything negative about him. From my experience with him here there is no doubt, I can always be proud of him even with a red card like on Sunday.
“For us he is very important. His mentality to help the team in different positions is always very positive.
“He was sad on Sunday and he was responsible. He was very disappointed but we had to try to be positive and move on.” ASTON VILLA: