Jhon Duran Embraces Bench Role, Expresses Love for Competing with Watkins
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Leipzig, Dec 11 (NationPress) Jhon Duran, recognized as the leading substitute goal scorer in Europe, demonstrated his skills once more by scoring Aston Villa’s second goal in their 3-2 victory against RB Leipzig during the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday (IST).
After being substituted onto the field due to a minor injury sustained by Ollie Watkins, Duran expressed that, despite not receiving consistent playing time, he enjoys the rivalry with the English forward.
"We worked hard as a team, and that is my job to score. The main thing was the win and the three points away from home. I'm just happy to be here and I actually love the competition with Ollie Watkins. When it’s my turn I'll step up and hopefully I can score and help the team,” Duran shared with Amazon Prime following the match.
Head coach Unai Emery praised his Villa squad as the win places them in a strong position for advancement to the knockout stages. Emery notably commended how his team adhered to their strategy and overcame challenges to secure all three points in Germany.
The encounter saw Villa take the lead on two occasions, first with a goal from John McGinn and then from Jhon Duran, before Leipzig managed to equalize each time. As the match approached its conclusion with a score of 2-2, Ross Barkley came off the bench to net the winning goal, marking Villa's fourth victory in six group-stage matches.
With 13 points now accumulated, Villa is in a robust position in Group E, and Emery aims to maintain a realistic outlook despite the commendable performances. "We have 13 points now and we have to be happy, but we have to keep balance. In this competition we are now in the top 24, maybe in the top 16, but we have the opportunity with winning today to play for the top eight positions. We will work for it,” Emery stated in the post-game conference.
