Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has responded to criticism of Morgan Rogers after the winger endured a poor display in the 1-0 Europa League victory over Bologna. The 23-year-old struggled to make an impact, completing just 10 of his 24 passes and winning only four of his 12 duels before sarcastic applause greeted a rare accurate pass late in the game.
Rogers has endured a difficult start to the season, and his performance against the Italian side highlighted his current struggles in possession and confidence. Despite fan frustration, Emery opted to leave him on the pitch for the full 90 minutes, explaining that he wanted to test the player’s resilience.
Emery on why he kept Rogers on the pitch
The Spaniard acknowledged Rogers’ shortcomings but stressed the importance of experience:
“The fans have to show their emotions. We have to accept it. Morgan is young and needs time for experiences. I kept him on the field because I wanted his reaction. He didn’t play well and wasn’t clinical in the attacking third, but he was still doing his task for the team.” — Unai Emery
Emery added that difficult nights like these were part of the development process: “He needs to take experiences today — not playing very well, the crowd not being happy with him — and grow up through it.”
Rogers’ stats vs Bologna
| Stat (vs Bologna) | Morgan Rogers |
|---|---|
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Pass Accuracy | 42% (10/24) |
| Chances Created | 1 |
| Duels Won | 29% (4/12) |
| Dribbles | 2 (0 successful) |
source: sofascore match data – 25 September 2025
The numbers underline the frustration among Villa supporters. Rogers’ passing accuracy of just 42% was far below the required level for a European tie, while his inability to beat his man further limited Villa’s attacking threat.
Analyst Verdict
FootballPlace analyst John William believes Emery’s decision to keep Rogers on the pitch was calculated:
“Emery knows that shielding Rogers from criticism would only delay the issue. By leaving him out there, he forced the player to deal with adversity, which could be valuable long term. Rogers has the physical tools, but his technical execution must improve if he is to be trusted at this level.”
He added: “The challenge now is balancing patience with the needs of the team. Villa can’t afford passengers in Europe, but Rogers won’t grow if he’s constantly withdrawn when things go wrong.”
Key Insights
- Morgan Rogers endured sarcastic applause during Villa’s 1-0 win over Bologna.
- Completed only 42% of his passes and failed with both attempted dribbles.
- Emery admitted “he didn’t play well” but stressed the importance of learning.
- The Villa boss said he wanted to see how Rogers reacted to adversity.
- Analyst verdict: patience is needed, but improvement must come quickly.
What’s Next for Rogers and Villa?
With Villa finally ending a seven-match winless run, Emery will hope his squad can build momentum. Rogers’ place in the starting XI may now come under scrutiny, especially with supporters losing patience.
For the player himself, the path forward is clear: he must cut out careless errors, sharpen his final ball, and prove he can contribute consistently in attack. Otherwise, Emery may turn to other options as Villa look to navigate a demanding domestic and European schedule.
👉 Do Aston Villa fans need to be more patient with Morgan Rogers, or is Emery right to demand an immediate step up in quality?
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