Unai Emery reveals "not easy" Donyell Malen conversation and advice after Champions League call
Unai Emery has reminded Donyell Malen there is still plenty to play for this season after accepting the forward’s frustration at missing out on Villa’s Champions League squad.
Malen and right-back Andres Garcia were the two January signings omitted, with Uefa rules only allowing the club to register three of their five new additions for the knockout stages of the competition.
The £21million signing from Borussia Dortmund reached last year’s final with the German club and Emery admitted it had not been easy to tell him the decision.
But the boss wants Malen to channel any disappointment into helping Villa qualify for next year’s Champions League through the Premier League.
The Netherlands international will also feature in Sunday’s FA Cup fourth round tie against Tottenham.
Emery said: “It was not easy, the conversation with him. It is not fair but the rules pushed us to take the decision and I explained to him why we took it.
“Of course, he accepted but it is not easy for him to be with us now and not playing in Champions League.
“But we have other objectives, the FA Cup and also the Premier League as a priority.”
He continued: “Today he was training well and of course he is going to play hopefully for a long time here and hopefully in the Champions League for the next years.”
Garcia and Malen’s omission saw Villa register a trio of loan signings in their squad with forwards Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio and defender Axel Disasi all added to the list.
The latter was essentially chosen ahead of Malen due to Emery’s current lack of options at the back.
Emery explained: “How we are now in the squad with some centre backs not being available and being injured.
“I spoke with him and tried to be honest and knowing it was not fair for him. But the decision I had to take was in that direction.”
