Donyell Malen gives perfect response to Champions League squad heartbreak
Donyell Malen has a point to prove after being left out of Aston Villa’s Champions League squad for the knockout rounds.
It would have come as a devastating blow for the 26-year-old to hear that he won’t be playing in the Champions League, with his place taken by three loan players instead. That being said, everyone can see why Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio were selected and the pair could be here to stay beyond this season.
Axel Disasi, meanwhile, was also a necessary pick because of the lack of defensive options available Unai Emery. The issue at play is that UEFA have a bizarre rule which means you can’t name all the players you have signed, despite selling more than you’ve brought in.
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But that wouldn’t make Emery’s decision to leave Malen out of his squad any easier for the forward to accept. As a professional - who has already played at the top level, including in the Champions League final last season - Malen would have begrudgingly accepted the call, but also use it as motivation to respond on the pitch.
That’s what he did against Tottenham when he led the line in Ollie Watkins absence. Running the channels, pressing from the front and linking play too, Malen impressed on what was his first start.
He also played a key role in the second goal as he pulled the ball across the box, which Morgan Rogers eventually fired in after Spurs failed to clear their lines.
It was an encouraging response from Malen, who before being told he had been left out of the Champions League squad was very unlucky to see a debut chalked off by VAR. Being an understudy is not why he joined Villa, and playing in the Champions League was part of his decision, but there is serious competition for places following the arrivals of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio.
After Villa’s win over Spurs, Malen posted on Instagram: “Waiting for God’s timing brings all things together for our good. Happy with our victory! #UPTHEVILLA.”
