Rooney Impressed by Villa's 'Excellent' Form
Former England captain Wayne Rooney has tipped Aston Villa for a sustained challenge at the Premier League's summit following their emphatic 4-0 victory over Bournemouth. The win, which occurred on Sunday, represents Villa's biggest of the season and propels them into the international break in a formidable sixth place, just a single point behind fourth-placed Sunderland.
From Struggles to Stardom: Villa's Remarkable Turnaround
This impressive position marks a dramatic reversal from the beginning of the campaign. Unai Emery's side failed to win any of their first six matches and took five agonising games to score their first league goal. However, the team has since ignited, securing eight victories in their last ten outings.
Working as a pundit for Match of the Day, Rooney was full of praise for the transformed squad. He specifically highlighted the immense contributions of midfielders Amadou Onana, Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn, and Emi Buendia.
"I thought they were excellent," Rooney stated. "Unai Emery made six changes from the game on Thursday night and you've seen that right from the start, the energy, the intensity, the attitude to get to the ball and go and win the ball back."
Energy and Commitment Define Dominant Display
Rooney went into detail about what made Villa's performance so compelling, pointing to their relentless work rate and clinical edge. He singled out Emi Buendia for particular acclaim, noting an instance where the midfielder ran 60-70 yards just to stop a cross, exemplifying the commitment shown throughout the match.
"They were clinical," Rooney continued. "They started the season off not great and they were struggling to score goals. But the recent form is excellent and you've got good players and they've got a good fanbase who get behind them and push them on."
Concluding his analysis, the former Manchester United striker delivered a clear prediction: "They'll be up there this season, I think the signs are really good for them," backing Villa to mount another serious bid for Champions League football.
