---
title: "Unai Emery explains Aston Villa touchline frustration during Brugge win"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2026/09/09/unai-emery-aston-villa-substitutes-club-brugge/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "James Chettle"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2026-09-09T09:24:54Z"
modified: "2026-09-22T11:07:43Z"
---

# Unai Emery explains Aston Villa touchline frustration during Brugge win

**Unai Emery has explained why he became visibly frustrated with Aston Villa’s substitutes during Tuesday night’s 3-2 Champions League victory over Club Brugge.**

Villa were protecting a 3-2 lead during a difficult second half in Belgium when Emery wanted to introduce fresh legs.

Boubacar Kamara and Aaron Wan-Bissaka were among the players the Villa boss felt were tiring, but his planned changes did not happen as quickly as he wanted.

According to the Guardian, **Alysson, Ross Barkley and Lamare Bogarde** were the players Emery was waiting to introduce. The substitutes were still going through set-piece instructions and dealing with individual preparations when he called for them.

Emery explained that he had already discussed potentially replacing tired players at half-time before allowing them another 15 minutes.

When the moment arrived, however, he wanted the replacements ready immediately.

> “I needed quickly their impact on the field.”

The full explanation was reported by the Guardian following Villa’s victory. [Read the Guardian’s Club Brugge vs Aston Villa report](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/sep/08/club-brugge-aston-villa-champions-league-match-report?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

> “We need patience and confidence” 🗣️\
> \
> Unai Emery on how his newly formed Villa team can continue to build after getting their first win of the season.\
> \
> 🎙️ [@LiamMacdevitt](https://x.com/LiamMacdevitt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) 📺 TNT Sports & HBO Max [pic.twitter.com/xIk7hE1R65](https://t.co/xIk7hE1R65)
>
> — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) [September 8, 2026](https://x.com/footballontnt/status/2097424561906106486?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

## Emery demands more from Aston Villa substitutes

It was not the first time this season Emery has shown frustration over the speed of Villa’s substitutions.

The same report says **Tammy Abraham and Wan-Bissaka** were involved in a similar situation during the goalless draw at Hull City, while Alejandro Garnacho had previously been involved against Arsenal.

That gives the incident greater significance than a one-off moment in Bruges.

Emery is trying to integrate a heavily rebuilt squad, but his expectations remain demanding when it comes to players understanding exactly what is required during matches.

Villa eventually survived Club Brugge’s second-half pressure to secure their first victory of the season, having established a 3-1 half-time lead through John McGinn, Emi Buendía and Nicolas Jackson.

Our [Club Brugge 2-3 Aston Villa match report](https://readastonvilla.com/2026/09/08/club-brugge-2-3-aston-villa-match-report/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) details how Emery’s side held on after Nicolò Tresoldi reduced the deficit from the penalty spot.

Bogarde was eventually introduced and almost scored Villa’s fourth, seeing a late effort cleared from the goal line.

Attention now turns to Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Nottingham Forest at Villa Park, with [Villa’s next five fixtures](https://readastonvilla.com/2026/09/09/aston-villa-next-five-fixtures/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) showing how quickly Emery will need his squad again.

For Villa’s substitutes, the message from their manager appears clear: when the call comes, Emery expects them ready.