Bayern Munich beat Aston Villa in Hong Kong as Unai Emery left with financial puzzle

After two straight victories, Aston Villa were beaten in the third and final match of their Asian tour, although Bayern Munich, 2-1 winners at Kai Tak Stadium on Friday, were a rather different proposition from Indonesia All Stars and BG Pathum United. Not that Unai Emery would be unduly worried by the outcome of this Audi Football Summit contest, played on a scarred surface that Vincent Kompany called “challenging”, in front of a supposed 38,176 fans, and lit up by a goalscoring second-half substitute appearance from Bayern winger Luis Diaz. No, the head coach must be scratching his head over how he can emulate a terrific last campaign when Villa won the Europa League to end a 30-year trophy drought, and obtained Champions League qualification for the second time in three seasons. Regardless of the riches on offer in Europe’s premium competition, and the fact that co-owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens are said to boast a combined wealth of around US$12 billion, Villa had to sell the outstanding midfield pair of Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans to comply with Uefa and Premier League financial regulations. Emery could yet lose Ezri Konza, too, with Arsenal apparently very keen on the England defender. Kompany was reluctant to be drawn into a conversation about spending rules after “travelling in so many different time zones”, but the Bayern head coach acknowledged he empathised with Villa after working under the same restrictions as Burnley manager. “Whatever they’re doing, they’ve found a model to compete … to push into that top four, top five in England, which is really tough,” Kompany told the South China Morning Post. “There are so many teams with other means and resources fighting for those spots that Villa consistently achieve. Nothing but respect from my side for the work they’re doing.” Encouragingly for Emery, Joao Gomes, signed from Wolves as one midfield replacement, netted Villa’s consolation goal with a toed effort into the right corner. Emery must have been yearning for Austin MacPhee, his old set-piece coach, who hightailed it to Chelsea this summer, when Kim Min-jae headed Bayern’s 37th-minute opener. The giant South Korean centre-back escaped the notice of both Matty Cash and Victor Lindelof, and was left alone to glance Tom Bischof’s free-kick inside Marco Bizot’s left post. How lovely it must be for Kim to be back in the bosom of Bayern following his miserable summer World Cup with South Korea. Unable to include the injured duo of John McGinn and Alejandro Garnacho in his squad to face Bayern, Emery could probably do without a high-profile Uefa Super Cup clash with the best team in Europe, Paris Saint-Germain, next Wednesday. It is ridiculous that barely two months after he oversaw one of the most glorious nights in Villa’s history, those financial laws have left the Basque in a bind. Arguably, the West Midlands club’s predicament is illustrative of why established, cash-rich rivals are so fond of spending limits being imposed. As the former Arsenal, Villa and England forward Paul Merson recently told the SCMP, before Emery had seen Rogers jump ship for Chelsea, and Manchester United take Tielemans: “The rules won’t let Villa compete [for the Premier League], they’re not going to be in for the £80-to-£90 million [US$107-to-US$120 million] players Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool go for. “Villa are a massive club, but they’re always going to get the scratchings.” Another summer recruit, Johan Manzambi, the Switzerland international midfielder who heeded the maxim that “if you can’t beat them join them” when he arrived from Villa’s vanquished Europa League final opponents Freiburg, is also currently out injured. After rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee at the World Cup, Amadou Onana, the Belgium midfielder, will be missing for at least six months. Amid the bad news there were shards of light for Villa against the Germans. Goalkeeper Bizot, deputising for Argentine Emilio Martinez, was equal to a good strike from Aleksandar Pavlovic. After half-time, he saved very well from Arijon Ibrahimovic, no relation to Zlatan, and Josip Stanisic in quick succession, then clawed out a Bischof free-kick that was destined for the inside of his near post. When Bizot was then beaten by a low effort from Diaz, Tammy Abraham was on the line to clear. There was nothing the Dutchman could do when Diaz skipped inside Cash and brilliantly whipped in a right-footed strike off the underside of the bar. Emery could not complain about his team’s spirit. Seemingly down and out following Diaz’s goal, they replied through Gomes’ 18-yard strike, then would have equalised moments later but for a superb point-blank stop from Manuel Neuer after Abraham met a right-wing cross with a firm header. “Both teams made a lot of changes, we went even younger, and you lose a little bit of control,” Kompany said. “The last 10 to 15 minutes were a bit of a reflection of what pre-season is: both teams were running and trying to be positive, but it’s difficult to control as a coach.” Abraham had replaced Brian Madjo, the 17-year-old, who had finally been allowed to register for Villa eight months after his arrival from Metz. The striker, whose Cameroonian dad Guy briefly played for Tuen Mun SA in Hong Kong in 2013, had been barred from signing because Fifa prohibit international transfers for under-18s. Villa successfully argued that despite his three caps for Luxembourg, Madjo was born in England and now plays for the country’s under-17s. Watching a bustling, fearless performance that featured a run and shot into the body of Jonathan Tah, last seen blazing over in Germany’s World Cup penalty shoot-out defeat by Paraguay, it was clear why Villa wanted him. Emery kept his thoughts about Madjo, and everything else, to himself, avoiding media commitments during his two-day stay in Hong Kong. The boss has plenty to ponder as he tries to recreate the highs of last season.

Bayern Munich beat Aston Villa in Hong Kong as Unai Emery left with financial puzzle

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}English club lose 2-1 to six-time European champions at Kai Tak Stadium and facing up to life without star duo after enforced sales

English club lose 2-1 to six-time European champions at Kai Tak Stadium and facing up to life without star duo after enforced sales