Aston Villa might have had some hope of producing a surprise result away at Manchester City after beating Pep Guardiola’s men in the reverse fixture – but it wasn’t to be as Phil Foden sparkled.
Foden scored a hat-trick for City as the Premier League champions cruised to a 4-1 win at The Etihad. It saw City remain in the hunt for the Premier League title, sitting a point behind Liverpool and Arsenal.
For Villa, a blow. The Midlands outfit could have capitalised on Tottenham only managing a point on Tuesday night against West Ham. Still, Unai Emery’s side remain in fourth place – two points ahead.
Rodri opened the scoring for City, before Jhon Duran equalised. But from then on in, Foden took the game by the scruff of the neck. However, he was helped by Italy attacker Nicolo Zaniolo last night.
Alan Shearer cannot believe what Aston Villa player did last night
Indeed, Foden’s free-kick – the first of his three and City’s second – seemed to find a gap in the Villa wall. But replays showed Zaniolo embarrssingly turned his back on Foden’s effort, allowing it to fly through.
Speaking on Match of the Day on Wednesday night, Alan Shearer could not believe what he was seeing from Zaniolo. He blasted the 24-year-old and thinks his manager will be “raging” with the Villa forward.
“Oh goodness me. Nicolo Zaniolo, what on earth are you doing? The point in the wall is to take the hit. He’s cost his team the goal. No wonder he [Emery] is raging. I’d love to know what he said at half-time.”
Zaniolo has little future at Aston Villa, anyway…
Villa have an option to buy Zaniolo, who is on loan at Emery’s side from Galatasaray. But, he has hardly set the world alight with his form in claret and blue. Just two goals in 22 Premier League appearances.
Fiorentina are keen to sign him, with a return to Italy expected. But the chances of Villa choosing to sign Zaniolo on a permanent basis beyond his loan deal this season is almost next to nothing. He will depart.
Villa remain in fourth and still have a big chance of qualifying for the Champions League. Fifth place is expected to also promise Champions League football – so it is not as if Tottenham will miss out, either.
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