Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has stated he "can't complain" about the physical treatment of star attacker Morgan Rogers, insisting his team must adapt to a Premier League where there is now "more contact and fewer fouls".
Villa's Star Man Under Increasing Scrutiny
The 23-year-old Rogers, poised to make his 100th appearance for the club against Everton on Sunday, has found himself a marked man this season. Emery believes opposition teams are deliberately targeting the forward, a trend he says is prevalent across the league for attacking players.
Despite the attention, Rogers has been fouled 27 times this campaign, a figure that only ranks 20th in the Premier League. Within the Villa squad, only John McGinn (36) and the injured Boubacar Kamara (30) have drawn more fouls.
Interestingly, as a collective, Aston Villa have been fouled more than any other side in the division. Villa have suffered 288 fouls, which is a staggering 41 more than the next team, Chelsea. This gap is the largest between any two clubs, highlighting the physical battles Emery's side regularly encounters.
Controversial Decisions and a Call to Adapt
The issue of officiating has been particularly pointed for Villa recently. The Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel ruled that two different opponents should have been sent off against Villa in the first half of the season.
They concluded that Fulham's André deserved a second yellow card at Villa Park in November, and that Arsenal's Mikel Merino should have been dismissed for a foul on Rogers when already booked. That incident occurred with Arsenal 2-0 up, a lead they famously failed to hold in the same fixture last season.
When asked if he was concerned about Rogers being targeted, Emery outlined a philosophical stance. "It is not now. It is all the season," he said. "The strikers, wingers and players in the attacking third are getting more contact with the defence. They are getting sometimes hard or strong contact."
He praised Rogers' character, calling him "a fighter", but stressed the need for his team to evolve. "We need to adapt quick and update how football is changing. It is changing a lot. More contact and less fouls."
Emery's Pragmatic Approach to Premier League Physicality
Emery used the recent match at the Emirates Stadium as a key example, describing the duels as "so, so strong". He suggested the modern game demands a new approach, even down to physical preparation.
"We need to work a lot in the gym and update everything how the Premier League is progressing - with the goalkeepers, the duels being contact," the Villa boss explained. "Football is changing and we must adapt."
On the question of whether Rogers needs greater protection from referees, Emery was resigned to the current climate. "We must believe the way they are managing for the referees and football. It is not in our hands and we must adapt and work. I can’t now complain about how they are managing the contact."
While he reiterated his belief that Merino's challenge on Rogers was "clearly a second yellow card", Emery's overarching message was one of pragmatism over protest. "I am not complaining. I am updating everything which happened in the matches we played and we need to adapt quick in everything, how football is changing."
As Villa prepare for their clash with Everton, it is clear Emery is drilling into his players that resilience and adaptation, rather than appeals to officials, will be key to their continued success.
