Morgan Rogers: Unai Emery delivers verdict on Aston Villa star after heroics in win over Manchester United – ‘He was not performing well’

Rogers’s brace means Villa are firmly ensconced in the title race, earning a 10th straight win in all competitions. They sit just three points behind league leaders Arsenal, and seven points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea.

Despite his well-oiled machine humming along, tough trips to Chelsea and Arsenal are in the near future, and Emery will ensure standards are kept high.

“He was not performing very well in the first half!” Emery said of Rogers. “He scored a good goal but he was not performing very well.

“We spoke about individually increasing our focus to get better and in the second half we did much better.”

He continued: “At half-time I was not happy (with him) because I am ambitious myself. I share my ambitions with them and my demand.

“Of course the players were performing but we weren’t focused enough. We weren’t facing them, or getting duels like we planned and needed. The second half we were better.”

Villa had started the match slowly, and it was United that looked stronger during the first half.

Benjamin Sesko had an excellent chance to give the visitors the lead, only for a returning Emi Martinez to deny him.

It was a moment of magic from Rogers, who Emery called his side’s “protagonist”, that finally broke the deadlock before the break, a curling effort from the edge of the box that rocketed past a helpless Senne Lammens.

United fired back a few minutes later when Matheus Cunha took advantage of an error from Matty Cash to slot past Martinez.

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But Rogers produced more wizardry in the second half, collecting the ball on the edge of the box and curling a shot into the far corner.

Emery’s side will now spend Christmas within touching distance of his former team Arsenal, but he is reluctant to consider his side as title contenders.

“We are not contenders,” he said. “We are here because we are competing fantastic. The players are really focusing each match with what we are trying to set and being consistent. But we are not contenders to be there.”

‘Every game is important’ – Rogers

Villa maestro Rogers spoke after his match-winning performance and, like Emery, tried to temper expectations.

“You make those conversations, not us. We’re firmly focused on the task at hand and handling it each game,” he told Sky Sports.

“It’s massive. Every game is important, against no bigger team than United. They are a tough team to play against and we have not had a good record against them recently, so we wanted to put it right and we are just really happy with the three points.

“The fans make football. Playing with no fans and playing with fans is two completely different sports. It is so enjoyable playing here. We have the crowd behind us and you can see it in our performances. Each and every one of them comes here every game and makes it a great place to play.”

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Rogers is playing with a confidence so supreme he feels comfortable attempting anything: backheel flicks, long-range strikes, winding runs and curling finishes.

He now has braces in back-to-back Premier League games, and has seven goals in the league in total.

“It’s hard work, it’s long hours and you want every one to go in the top corner like that, so it’s nice when one does go in,” he explained.

“You’ve just got to keep trying it and trying it, and sometimes it’s your day, sometimes it isn’t. Luckily, lately it has been and I’m happy about that.

“I’m really confident and enjoying my football but it’s not just me, it’s the whole team. The team’s performances give me that belief and confidence and allow me to be me. That’s the most important thing. Our team performances are getting us the wins, not just me, so a big game and big win.

“I play football to try and fulfil my potential and be the best version of myself possible. I try my hardest, sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t, but I keep working hard and wherever it takes me, it takes me.”