Yahoo News Unai Emery blasts England decision as Aston Villa boss makes 'finished' admission
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery was both surprised and frustrated to see Morgan Rogers receive a call-up to the England Under-21 squad on Friday.
Rogers has made an impressive start to the new Premier League season and was the best player on the pitch in Villa's 2-0 defeat to Arsenal last weekend. Interim England boss Lee Carsley watched Rogers torment Declan Rice at Villa Park, but chose to hand Morgan Gibbs-White and Noni Madueke their first senior call-ups instead.
"I am very surprised the national team called him for Under-21 [team]," Emery admitted. "What does he gain by playing in the U21s, Morgan Rogers? He is ready in case they want to call him for the national team, I can understand.
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"My response to it, my question is, Morgan Rogers, now he is a reality. The first six months he was here, was OK, but now he is confirming it – not to play in the Under-21s. If they are calling him in the national team, the first team, OK perfect. If not, why?
"What is a player like Morgan Rogers gaining by playing for the U21s? I am surprised. I respect that they are not calling him for the first team, but the second team? He is not a player for the second team. Hopefully he will come back here in good shape. Last year, Ramsey came back injured and barely played all season which was very painful for us and we lost a lot without him.
"Last year, I thought Ramsey was ready to play in the senior team. He played in the Under-21s and he came here injured and he struggled all season. Jacob was closer to being in the first team [than the Under-21s].
"Some players when they are playing with us, being successful, playing well consistently over 90 minutes with very good performances, they are ready to play for the senior teams, not the Under-21s. U21s is Jaden. He has come here from the Championship last year, and he has to confirm here if he is ready to play consistently with us, and now he can play with the U21s. But Morgan Rogers?"
Emery added: "Morgan played fantastic last week, fantastic. He is now ready to play in the England first team. If not, I accept it because there are other players as well. But do not call him up for the Under-21s. His moment to play there is finished, it's done. Now he is at another level - it's completely clear he has gone to another level."
