Aston Villa’s clash with Nottingham Forest produced plenty of talking points, but one of the biggest surprises came before kick-off as Unai Emery handed Victor Lindelof an unfamiliar midfield role.
There had been suggestions during the week that the Sweden international had been training in a deeper position, but few expected Emery to make such a bold tactical call in a crucial fixture.
Lindelof featured in Villa’s 2-1 defeat to Tottenham as part of a defence that struggled throughout the match, making his inclusion against Forest even more intriguing. Instead of deploying him at centre-back, Emery pushed the 31-year-old into midfield in an attempt to add composure and defensive cover in the middle of the pitch.
The decision quickly became a major talking point on TNT Sports, with Ally McCoist admitting he was shocked by the tactical switch.
“I’ve got to say it’s surprised me,” McCoist said during commentary. “It really has surprised me, but with Unai Emery’s track record, you’ve got to trust him.”
Joe Cole also reacted to the change, describing it as a “massive call” from the Villa manager given the importance of the game and the demands of the midfield role.
Villa started brightly, with Ollie Watkins opening the scoring, but Lindelof’s performance remained under close scrutiny throughout the first half.
The former Manchester United defender completed 81 per cent of his passes and recorded two interceptions in the opening 45 minutes. However, he struggled with his long-range distribution and won just 33 per cent of his aerial duels, highlighting the adjustment period involved in adapting to an unfamiliar role.
Despite some shaky moments, Emery’s decision underlined his willingness to experiment tactically as Villa continue their push across multiple competitions.
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