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Aston Villa Boss Unai Emery hailed their academy stars as they came from behind to beat RB Salzburg in Europa League on Thursday.
The Villans were already safely through to the last-16 of the competition, allowing Emery to rotate his squad and run-out his young crop.
And the Spanish head coach was rewarded, with 19-year-old Jamaldin Jimoh scoring a late winner at Villa Park.
Unsurprisingly, Emery was full of positive comments after the match. He said: “Very happy and of course playing today with some of the potential players that we have developing with them as young players in the academy.
“And today they got a chance to play, then George then Jamal (Jimoh-Aloba) and Kadan (Yuan). Of course, Jamal scored a goal, really amazing.
“We were expecting a tough match because they needed to win. They are brave to play forward. Trying to go into individual duels with us.
“In Europe, from the experiences we have, we know how difficult every match is. Today, playing 90 minutes, generating this energy with our supporters is something we can feel as a competition where we can be leaders and get something.”
Of the academy players, he added: “They need to be given a chance and those three players play, George and then Jamal and Kadan, I think it’s a good opportunity for them, they’ve played to get experience and play as needed in our plan with them.
“To win, to play with some players like him and to create something with the feeling of our supporters in this competition I think is very important.”
