Aston Villa manager Unai Emery lavished praise on two-goal hero Morgan Rogers after his brilliant brace secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Manchester United, extending Villa's remarkable winning streak to ten matches in all competitions.
Rogers Repeats West Ham Heroics
The 23-year-old forward, fresh from scoring a double in last week's win at West Ham, was the match-winner once again at Villa Park. His two decisive strikes helped the side fight back after Matheus Cunha had levelled the scores for the visitors. The result marks Aston Villa's seventh consecutive Premier League victory, propelling them to third in the table and within just three points of leaders Arsenal heading into the Christmas period.
"The result was fantastic, and this is the most important thing," a delighted Emery stated after the final whistle. He acknowledged the challenge posed by United, saying, "They faced us with their qualities and ideas. We competed fantastically. It was a tough match, but our momentum over the 90 minutes showed our qualities through different players."
Emery's Delight at Rogers' Development
The Spanish coach singled out both his goalkeeper and his goalscorer for special acclaim. "Emiliano Martinez saved with fantastic actions and Morgan Rogers played brilliantly, scoring goals," Emery said, before emphasising the team's overall execution: "We did a fantastic job tactically and in our game plan."
Emery was particularly pleased with Rogers' all-round contribution and attitude. "We need the numbers from the players, and today and last week Morgan Rogers is performing fantastically," he explained. "He started the season not getting the goalscoring numbers but playing well. He is always doing his task, always with the commitment he's showing."
The Villa boss added, "I’m so, so happy because he’s a fighter. He’s a good guy, very good guy. His commitment with Aston Villa is massive, and his attitude every day is really fantastic. When he’s getting numbers like today, of course we are very proud of everybody, but especially today with him."
Festive Fixtures and United's Injury Blow
Villa now face a stern test to round off 2025, with difficult away trips to Chelsea and Arsenal on the horizon, where Rogers is certain to be a central figure.
For Manchester United, the defeat was compounded by the loss of captain Bruno Fernandes, who limped off midway through the match. Manager Ruben Amorim confirmed he expects to be without both Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo for their Boxing Day clash at home to Newcastle.
Despite the result, Amorim found positives in his team's performance. "I think we did really well. I think we were the better team today," he claimed. "We have been really consistent in the way we play and create chances. We defend well... Again, I think we play well but the feeling is that the frustration is still there, so we need to take the good things and to prepare the next one."
