Unai Emery hails Aston Villa man's commitment after two-goal brace

The Netherlands international scored twice in his first Premier League start of the season to see Villa past the Clarets for their fourth straight win in all competitions.

Malen has played something of a peripheral role since joining from Borussia Dortmund for an initial £21million in the January transfer window, having made just three top flight starts before Sunday’s match.

But he was the undoubted star of the show as Villa continued their resurgence and Emery said: “Our demands are high demands. He always works well and has a commitment to try his best is there. 

“Sometimes he performs better or worse. I spoke to him yesterday about the position I wanted him in today. 

“He is one player more to help (Ollie) Watkins get to the opponent box. He did fantastic. The most important thing, like with Watkins not scoring, he still did his work.”

Malen, playing in a central role behind Watkins, opened the scoring in the 25th minute when he raced on to Boubacar Kamara’s through ball and finished impressively past Clarets keeper Martin Dubravka.

He then doubled Villa’s advantage just past the hour mark, taking Morgan Rogers’ pass under control before firing into the bottom corner.

“We were trying to get one player to attack aggressively in behind,” said Emery. “If we can get Malen close to the box, he has qualities and is a fast player to shoot and he is clinical. Today he showed it.

“He was not getting the same physicality in some matches before, like against Sunderland and Feyenoord when he had an action like today. 

“Getting confidence and trying to give them positions on the field where they are really feeling better to exploit their qualities. Today, he got it.”

Villa would have won by more were it not for Dubravka, who also denied Rogers, Ezri Konsa, Matty Cash and Lucas Digne.

The keeper’s heroics helped set-up a nervy finish when Lesley Ugochukwu took advantage of slack marking to head home from a corner.

Villa held on for their 80th win since Emery took charge in November, 2022, with the Spaniard comfortably their quickest manager to reach that mark.

Emery said: “We must keep going. Of course, some numbers are behind us and those numbers are good numbers.

“But there is still work to do, still demands we have in front. My purpose here is to create something, being excited and motivated in Europe, with our demands to be in the top-10, top eight, top-seven, top-four, hopefully.”

Emery, meanwhile, explained Emi Buendia was still being assessed after being substituted late on with a head injury. The playmaker took a whack from the raised arm of Burnley’s Zian Flemming, though referee Andrew Kitchen did not think the act worthy of a foul.

“He is getting better,” said Emery of Buendia. “I saw him with the doctor and he was feeling better.

“I didn’t see it (the action). Someone told me it was a little bit of a kick but I did not watch.”