Tyrone Mings reveals 'amazing' Unai Emery quality at Aston Villa and drops Pau Torres verdict

Aston Villa's Tyrone Mings
-Credit: (Image: PA)


Tyrone Mings has marvelled at Unai Emery's ability to turn things to Aston Villa's advantage, often mid-game, having watched from the sidelines the rise of the Lions under the Spaniard's tutelage. Mings helped Villa reach the Europa Conference League in the season before last before injury disaster struck on the opening day at Newcastle last season.

Since, the England international has married the arduous yet familiar journey of rehabilitation back to action with keeping an eye on his teammates' progress - now, as the centre half prepares to return in the not too distant future, he'll be partaking in a Champions League campaign, the fruit of his colleagues' efforts in his absence.

Mings, who played 45 minutes against Newcastle's under 21s last weekend, as he bids to rejoin Emery's Premier League matchday squad, showered praise on the Villa boss, who has maintained a scintillating win ratio during his two years in charge and transformed Villa from relegation fighters to Champions League participants. He has been impressed by Emery's coaching abilities, particularly when reacting to adverse situations.

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"What separates good managers from great managers is that, he has a great way of playing, but his in-game management is so amazing as well," Mings told Ben Foster's Fozcast podcast. "His ability to change games and foresee things that are coming down the line and make changes. If you having a tough first 45 minutes, you come into the changing room, you're looking for guidance.

"We had a game plan, it didn't work or we didn't stick to it well enough because something happened and what are we going to do next...everybody's looking to the manager. He is amazing at that. It never feels as if anything is catastrophic, either. If we go one or 2-0 down, the manager has usually got something - 'this is how we're going to change it'.

"He's a big believer in not playing any different whether we're 1-0 up, 2-0 up, 2-0 down, 3-0 down. He's a very calm manager, a very considered manager and his experience of what he's done before allows you to believe in what he's doing as well.

"We have been so consistent since the manager has come in, and that's credit to him - his ability to think one game at a time. There's no time to not be good enough under this manager. It's not something you should feel pressured by, that is what will keep driving us forward. He has to signing good players and evolving the squad and tactics. They're things he's doing all the time to keep us fresh."

Mings also complimented the work of Pau Torres, who joined the club last summer and has effectively held down the left side of the centre of Villa's defence without Mings. Torres, a Spain international, was the club's then record signing when joining from Villarreal and he has been crucial in both attending to his defensive duties and beginning attacks from deep.

"I'm a big fan of Pau Torres, who is playing in my position," Mings added. "There's no animosity about whether I'll get in front of him and stuff - that is what a good squad is about. It's how we will evolve as a team."

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