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UNAI EMERY’S BLUNT COMMENTS LEAVE JADON SANCHO FACING PUBLIC SHAME.

Jadon Sancho's difficult loan at Aston Villa continued as he was substituted after just 45 minutes against Man City. The winger, struggling for form, was hooked despite Villa holding on for a 1-0 victory.

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Jadon Sancho leaving the field against Manchester City (Image: PA)

In Sunday's match against Manchester City, Aston Villa loanee Jadon Sancho was brought on as a substitute but was taken off the pitch after just forty-five minutes. When Villa made a double substitution with Evann Guessand 16 minutes from the end, the winger, who had replaced the injured Emi Buendia in the first half, saw his number come up.

Since signing late in the summer transfer window on loan from Manchester United, Sancho has seen limited use. Although he began the Europa League loss to Go Ahead Eagles in the middle of the week, he had only made one league replacement appearance before playing City.

The 25-year-old just made a comeback from illness, and that performance in the Netherlands was his first since being sidelined. His performance versus City, however, did not seem to please Unai Emery, who supported Guessand, another summer acquisition, to finish the match.

Just before he withdrew, Sancho did catch a glimpse of the goal. Gianluigi Donnarumma made a save after he broke cleanly in from the left, and the City keeper also stopped his follow-up attempt.

When Sancho took the pitch, Villa had already taken a 1-0 lead thanks to Matty Cash. The winger made way as Villa tried to thwart their opponents' title challenge, but it was still 1-0.

Villa's ambitions of making it to the Champions League were dashed by a late loss to City at the end of the last campaign, but Emery was aware that a victory on Sunday might deliver Pep Guardiola's team a similar blow.

Erling Haaland drove the ball home late in the game, giving City the impression that they had saved a point, but the goal was disallowed for offside in the build-up. Cash's goal in the first half was sufficient for Villa to win at home after the six minutes of extra time had passed.

At the final whistle, Guardiola's team was still fourth in the standings, but they are in a precarious position. Tottenham had a chance to overtake City by defeating Everton in Sunday's late game, while Villa is only one point behind them.

Emery laid out his ambitions for Sancho back in September. The Spaniard stated, "Yes, of course, this is my mission, to get him back to his best - and if he does that, then he will come back to the national team."

"Every athlete aspires to play for their country. He did a tremendous job while he was at Borussia Dortmund. Additionally, he participated in roughly 25 games for the national team.

He is still young, of course. He is still eager to demonstrate his ability to play with his abilities and attributes, and perhaps we can take advantage of his finest here once more."

GUARDIOLA TIPS HAT TO DYCHE: ‘HE’S AMONG THE VERY BEST’

Pep Guardiola hails new Forest boss Sean Dyche as "the best" at set-pieces, noting the trend isn't new. He also revealed that Man City has struggled with dead-ball situations this season compared to rivals like Arsenal.

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Pep Guardiola shaking hands with Sean Dyche - COURTESY/PHOTO

According to Pep Guardiola, Nottingham Forest has one of the best representatives of the new fascination in football at their disposal.

Although Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, and their ability to score goals from set pieces are admired by the football community, Guardiola has reminded everyone that the idea is not particularly new.

As demonstrated during his tenure as Burnley's manager from 2012 to 2012, he did, in fact, hail incoming Forest manager Sean Dyche as "one of the greatest."

The 54-year-old guided the Clarets into the Premier League and kept them there for six seasons before exiting Turf Moor.

Forest, who have only won one league game so far and are now in third place, can now access that knowledge.

Man City boss Guardiola said, “It’s true that people utilise every throw-in like a corner and put 10 players there in the box.

"Every move (Michael) Kayode made in the box caused us to suffer when we played at Brentford or watched Brentford play Liverpool in our hotel. Additionally, Kayode was the match's man.

“Today, set pieces are a menace. I recall being in Burnley a long time ago with Sean Dyche. Burnley posed a serious threat in the second and long balls.

"Dyche is by far the finest at these kinds of things. He has already done it; therefore, it is not fresh.

Or Sam Allardyce. Or I recall Stoke City when I was not here. Do you recall the throws made by Stoke City?

Maybe Stoke was the anomaly back then, but more and more teams are doing that now.

"I recall that Arsene Wenger mentioned playing at Stoke City while I was at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but these days it happens frequently.

It may have happened (only) at Burnley or not at all when I got there, but it is a fact now. You must also pay attention. I still want to play, though.

This season, Arsenal has already scored nine league goals from set pieces, five from open play, and two from penalties.

With eight (plus eight from open play and one penalty), Chelsea is not far behind.

On the other end of the scale, though, are Forest and Man City. While City has scored 12 goals from open play, three more on the counterattack, and two own goals, they have yet to score from a set piece. The Reds have scored two of their five goals from restarts.

"Every manager does what they think," Guardiola stated. I am not ignorant of the fact that I want to score from corners and free kicks. I desire it. However, I dedicate my time to what we need to do to improve our play, attack, and generate opportunities. to score goals.

I pay attention, of course, but I am aware that I am not the manager to try to; I have done that my entire career. When things became rough at Burnley, I recall that we gave up maybe one corner, if any, as the second balls were under our control. That is the most effective method of defending these games.

However, you need to be strong in many areas for that, and we are working on it. I will keep working mostly on our game till the very end. And occasionally, as necessary, adjust.

At Brentford, we performed quite well. James, the French set-piece coach, did a fantastic job of enticing our guys into defending these kinds of acts. The same was true at Arsenal: it was amazing. We did not control the game against Arsenal; therefore, we gave up a lot of corners.

NAPOLI TAKE THREE-POINT LEAD AFTER CLOSE WIN AGAINST LECCE

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa's header secured a 1-0 win for Napoli over Lecce, moving them top of Serie A. The victory was sealed after Vanja Milinkovic-Savic saved a Francesco Camarda penalty.

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Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa celebrates scoring - Photo Credit: Getty Images

Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa scored another goal to give Napoli a narrow victory over Lecce, although Vanja Milinkovic-Savic also saved a penalty kick from Francesco Camarda.

The thrilling 3-1 victory against Inter put the Partenopei back atop the league, but it came at a price: Kevin De Bruyne will miss several months of action due to a significant thigh strain. Rasmus Hojlund and Amir Rrahmani returned to the bench, but Stanislav Lobotka, Alex Meret, and Romelu Lukaku remained on the treatment table. Leonardo Spinazzola and Scott McTominay were rested, and the 4-3-3 formation was reinstated. Following the 3-2 loss to Udinese, Lecce was without Gaby Jean, Filip Marchwinski, Matias Perez, and Riccardo Sottil.

Billy Gilmour's attempt was deflected wide as Napoli wore their special edition Halloween uniform, but Lorenzo Lucca unintentionally charged down a Matteo Politano strike that was on target.

On the Matias Olivera pull-back, Politano turned over from six yards out, while Medon Berisha also threatened by drilling wide from the area's edge.

Olivera had been put clear by a clever Gilmour first-touch lay-off, but Wladimiro Falcone made a fantastic stop with his legs at the near post.

On the cusp of halftime, Francesco Camarda's chest and half-volley was inches wide, yet it would not have been considered handball.

Moments after the restart, Noa Lang added to the growing list of Napoli players out after hobbling off with a hit to the thigh just above the left knee.

Lucca sprinted onto a long ball that Falcone hurried out to nod clear, and Politano's follow-up was charged down with the goalie off his line, creating a double chance to open the score.

After a VAR review, the Lecce penalty was given because Kialonda Gaspar's header on a corner seemed to hit Juan Jesus' hand, which bent back on impact. Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, who has saved five of the past nine Serie A penalties faced, demonstrated his expertise by parrying the spot-kick when Camarda stepped up.

Hojlund made his comeback from injury, with McTominay and Leonardo Spinazzola reinforcing the team off the bench for the final half-hour.

It paid off, as a free kick from David Neres was glanced into the far top corner off the head of Anguissa from six yards out, giving Napoli the lead.

Nikola Stulic was too slow to capitalise on a Danilo Veiga pull-back, Elmas shot wide, and Hojlund missed the Neres assist in stoppages.

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