‘I wanted to show everyone’ – Villa’s comeback star Buendia

Due to injury, Emiliano Buendia, who was Aston Villa’s record signing, was unable to kick a ball for a full year.

The Argentine’s promising career was put on hold by an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in 2023, which has since made him struggle to re-enter the team.

The 28-year-old midfielder has three goals and one assist in his previous four starts, but he is now firmly back in Unai Emery’s good graces this year.

The substitute’s sublime finish, which came in the bottom corner after Matty Cash made a sensational pass, gave the team a 2-1 Premier League win over Tottenham on Sunday.

Absolutely necessary for both the team’s confidence and success, Buendia told Sky Sports.

“I wanted to show everyone I can play here to help this team and club and I can do it every game,” I said right away.

Buendia was ready to leave this summer, but Villa was hesitant to do so because he had already proven his worth.

Emery’s side have won three straight top-flight victories since failing to win any of their first five games, which comes just when Villa needed it.

Former Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given described his recent strike as “an incredible strike from Buendia.”

Buendia was battling for spots in a Villa shirt this year and was contemplating moving to a villa stadium in January just to get some minutes.

He played a significant role in Villa’s subsequent two seasons, appearing in all but three of their 76 league games, having signed for the club in 2021 on a five-year deal for the then club record of £33 million.

However, Villa’s 2023-2023 pre-season injury ultimately caused him to miss the entire 2023-24 campaign due to an ACL injury.

All 12 of his league appearances came as substitutes last term.

Buendia agreed a new contract with Villa in January, but he was immediately sent on loan to Bayer Leverkusen until the end of the season.

Buendia wanted to stay and compete for his spot in Emery’s squad, but he was determined to return to the form he enjoyed before suffering from an injury.

“Working hard and pushing to the manager’s best advantage is always important.” It’s crucial to fight for our place, Buendia said on Sunday.

His best averages for Villa in a single season were a goal involvement every 119 minutes and a goal every 158.

“Our performance was poor from the beginning. We were unable to experience the quality that this competition demanded, according to Buendia.

After five games, Villa, a team that has qualified for Europe in the previous three seasons, were left lurking around the relegation zone due to two defeats and three draws.

However, it is a sign of significant improvement when they win away from home for the first time in a year.

The sub players had a fantastic impact today, according to Emery.

“This is the team I want us to be,” he said, “the team we were last year, bringing positive energy.” Everything we do is improving. I’m feeling incredibly proud and pleased today.

People must have the confidence to perform at their best, engaging in enthusiastic and passionate play and showing their commitment to the club.

Villa moved up to 11th place in the table, but they will soon face Liverpool and Manchester City.

Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane, who spoke on Sky Sports, said, “That’s a huge win for Villa.”

The winning goal was fantastic, and they did, to come back and recover in the manner they did. The season’s ball must be Cash’s ball. A fantastic goal to win any football game.

Jamie Redknapp, a former Liverpool midfielder, said: “Villa has become a full Harlem Globetrotters.” Beautiful ball from Cash, but Lucas Digne, who is still in the air, brings it down, makes a beautiful, tiny inside-the-corner bend.