Unai Emery insists he has Jhon Duran under control after the Aston Villa player lashed out following his substitution during the Champions League match against Bologna. Despite the incident, Emery expressed no concerns about Duran’s reaction, saying: “I have no problem with his reaction. Every message we send in the dressing room is about respect and having our values. Some young players can react a little bit but it is under my control.”
The match on Tuesday night saw Villa equalling a club record by defeating Bologna 2-0, with goals from John McGinn and Duran, which put Villa at the top of the league stage. Duran showcased his skills by scoring in the 64th minute from a Morgan Rogers cross, but was taken off just a minute later for Ollie Watkins. Although Duran has adapted to being a super sub this season, scoring five goals off the bench, he was visibly upset after leaving the pitch and was captured hitting the substitutes bench seats before walking down the tunnel.
Following the match, reactions among Villa fans varied. A caller on talkSPORT labelled Duran's behaviour as "disgraceful," suggesting that as a young player, he needs to learn to control his emotions, especially in a successful environment where he has the opportunity to develop further. Jamal, the caller, stated: “He’s got to bide his time, learn and develop and stop making Unai Emery have to answer questions about his behaviour.”
Former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy joined the discussion, comparing Duran's antics to the character Scrappy-Doo. He remarked, “You can’t be doing that, especially in front of the cameras. He’s like Scrappy-Doo! He thinks he’s hard, but right now, you can’t be doing that on the touchline!”
Duran, who has scored seven goals in 404 minutes across 12 games this season, will need to channel his passion positively as Villa aim to maintain their impressive form in the Champions League under Emery’s management.