“Not in my wildest dreams would I have imagined this,” he confessed. Emi Buendiaauthor of a goal and an assist, after receiving the award for MVP of the final of the Europe before him Freiburg that allowed the Aston Villa of Unai Emery win their first continental title 44 years after lifting the European Cup in 1982.
Goal from Buendía (0-2) in Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
The Argentine playmaker, trained in the quarries of Real Madrid and Getafedisembarked in Villa Park in summer 2021 as a replacement for Jack Grealish…being the most expensive signing in the history of the Aston Villa after being awarded as ‘Best Playedr’ of the last edition of the championship wearing the shirt Norwich.
His performance led him to receive his first call from Scaloni to represent Argentina in February 2022. His progression was clearly on the rise… but a torn cruciate in the 2023 preseason stopped him in his tracks. So much so that he could not play a single game that season and did not reappear with the reserve team until the beginning of September of the following year.
It was difficult for him to re-enter the team and, in January, he had to go on loan to the Bayer Leverkusen of Xabi Alonsowhich did not exercise the purchase option valued at 20 million euros to keep it as property. His future was a complete unknown. But he agreed to stay Aston Villa and, based on work and sacrifice, he once again gained the trust of Unai Emery.
Starting in 32 of the 52 games he has played this season, he has enjoyed his best season as a ‘villain’… producing up to 20 goals – 10 of them in Europa League— among all competitions. He is also the third player on the squad who shoots the most (45) and creates the most opportunities in straight play (23). Also the one who wins the most possessions (99) being an inside wing
Rogers goal (0-3) in Freiburg 0-3 Aston Villa
His last two goals generated came in the final of the Europa League before him Freiburg with a beautifully crafted goal from the corner of the area directly into the corner with his left foot and, in the second half, in the form of an assist in favor of Morgan Rogers for 0-3. It was difficult for him to get into the game. But, in addition to his impact on the scoreboard, he distributed two key passes and won 5/7 duels.
“It took me a lot to get here, to have this opportunity that I have earned with so much work, to be able to enjoy this today,” he acknowledged after the clash in the microphones of Movistar. “I am very happy to have been able to help the team, for the goal, for the assist. The truth is that each and every member of this club deserves a night like this,” he added.
It took me a lot to get here, to have this opportunity that I have earned with so much work, to be able to enjoy this today
Lionel Scaloni He already recovered it for the cause facing the last FIFA date…and was included in the preliminary list of 55 names presented on May 11 to go to the World Cup. It’s going to be difficult to ‘sneak’ into the expedition that arises in United States, Mexico and Canada to defend the title of champion because the competition is very tough. Now the truth is that Emi Buendia it is winning to go to the World.
