Donyell Malen came off the Aston Villa bench at half-time on Sunday afternoon to change the game, and he has now slammed the Elland Road pitch after Villa’s win over Leeds United.
Leeds dominated the first half. Aside from a long-distance effort from Ollie Watkins, Villa didn’t really trouble Lucas Perri’s goal in the first 45. In the second, however, that changed, and Malen was crucial.
Who was your Leeds United MOTM against Aston Villa?
Unai Emery chose to be proactive instead of reactive, unlike the manager in the other dugout, and made changes at half-time. Ian Maatsen and Malen came on, replacing duo Lucas Digne and Emi Buendia.
Minutes later, Malen had secured a key assist for Villa’s equaliser. He wandered into the Leeds area with Ethan Ampadu failing to track a runner, not for the first time. Morgan Rogers turned his cross in.
Donyell Malen criticises Elland Road pitch despite Aston Villa win
Villa would go on to win 2-1, inflicting a fifth defeat in six games for Farke, ramping the pressure up on the Leeds gaffer. LeedsUnited.News understands the 49ers are assessing Farke and know the fans’ view.
It was an improved performance by Leeds, but not enough. Speaking to Aston Villa’s website, Malen was quoted as criticising the Elland Road pitch, claiming the grass was long. Perhaps, a deliberate ploy.
“We didn’t start well, but to get the three points, massive. It was quite a heavy, very long pitch. The grass was quite long, so it’s not always easy. But at the end of the day, they have the same grass that we have.”
Unai Emery said Leeds looked tired:
It’s not the first time the Elland Road pitch has been criticised
During the 2020-21 season, Leeds’ first season back in the Premier League after 16 years out of the top flight, there were many criticisms from players and fans about the pitch. Jack Grealish was among them.
Posting on his Instagram story at the time, the then-Aston Villa star said “everyone just slips on this pitch”. Andrea Radrizzani was forced to take action, with the help of Premier League giants Tottenham.
In January 2021, it was reported that Radrizzani and the Leeds board forked out a massive £300,000 to buy a spare pitch from Tottenham. Now, there is more criticism, but perhaps this time it is on purpose.
It could be a ploy from Farke to slow down any attacking play against Leeds. Certainly, there were no visible defects of the grass on Sunday as Leeds suffered a 2-1 loss to Unai Emery’s in-form Villa side.
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