'Played really well': Ally McCoist impressed by £38m Aston Villa star after 'perfect' win vs Bologna
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Aston Villa maintained their 100% winning record in this season’s UEFA Champions League with a 2-0 win against Bologna.
John McGinn and Jhon Duran were on the scoresheet for Unai Emery’s side as the Villa Park side sent themselves top of the Champions League league phase after three games, with Villa the only side before tonight’s games to win every match.
With Ally McCoist in awe with Duran’s performance for Villa, it was another sensational evening in Birmingham for the Premier League side, who look like strong contenders already to finish in the top-eight of the Champions League.
And McCoist was impressed by another Villa star in last night’s win.
Ian Maatsen praised after strong Villa performance vs Bologna
Speaking on TNT Sports coverage of the game, the pundit was full of praise for Ian Maatsen’s performance for Villa against Bologna, who made his first Champions League start under Emery since joining from Chelsea this summer for £38m.
With Maatsen believing he was joining Borussia Dortmund this summer after leading the German giants to last season’s Champions League final, Villa landed quite the talent in the Dutch international from Chelsea.
And McCoist was impressed with what he saw from the defender, with the Scottish icon saying: “Perfect night for Villa. A clean sheet, two good goals, Jhon Duran starts and scores, Ian Maatsen came into the side and played really well. There was no failure in the side tonight.
“We felt the vibe in the stadium before the game and the good feeling continues. Bologna offered a bit of threat in the first half but you felt that the Villa goals took the stuffing out of them and Villa ran out deserved winners in the end.”
Maatsen showed why he can become a starter for Villa
With Lucas Digne still Villa’s preferred option at left-back, it might take some time before Maatsen is considered the first-choice pick from Emery having mainly been used as a substitute this season.
However, at 22-years-old and arriving this summer for a huge transfer fee, the future is big for Maatsen at Villa Park, with the fullback the exact sort of player who can thrive under Emery if he is patient enough to wait.
And McCoist’s praise for Maatsen last night proved that the defender is slowly getting there with Villa, with the fullback’s performance an impressive one and one that showed supporters what’s to come from the Dutch international.
