‘A little bit psycho’ – Aston Villa man takes pleasure in pain after Manchester City win
The midfielder summed up Villa’s never-say-die spirit when he blocked a Phil Foden shot with his face in the closing stages of Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Manchester City.
Matty Cash’s 19th minute strike was enough for Unai Emery’s men to secure a fourth straight Premier League win, with club record signing Onana later awarded the man-of-the-match prize.
He smiled: “I enjoy taking one for the team. If I have to sacrifice myself, I will do it, no doubt. I still look alright. I am still a pretty boy!”
Onana continued: “You know, I enjoy it. This might sound a little bit psycho but I enjoy it.
“This is what the boss brought me here for. I just have to find my rhythm, find consistency because I want to put in performances like Sunday week-in, week-out. That is what it is all about.
“We said before the game it was going to take a team effort, fighting to the last whistle. We did it very, very well.”
The 24-year-old joined Villa from Everton for £50million in the summer of 2024 but has started just 24 Premier League matches for Emery having spent several spells out injured.
He missed more than a month of the current campaign due to a hamstring issue but is now eager to kick on.
Onana said: “It is any player’s worst nightmare when you are sidelined and you see the team is not doing well and you want to help but can’t.
“I was just focused on getting back healthy and ready to help the team.”
Villa are up to eighth in the table after becoming the first team since Preston in 1936 to reel off four straight wins after failing to win any of their first five league matches.
They next visit Liverpool on Saturday with the reigning champions reeling after losing four matches on the spin.
Onana claims the reason for Villa’s turnaround is simple.
He said: “It is just hard work, dedication and belief in the manager’s plan, belief in the quality we have in the team.
“Just belief, honestly. We know in the end if we had a season like last season, we can definitely reproduce it because for me, it is the same team. We are definitely capable of much more.”
Sunday’s win came after Emery celebrated his third anniversary as Villa boss.
Asked what the Spaniard had brought to the club, Onana replied: “A lot of professionalism and working in detail. He has such a lot of experience – manager of Arsenal and manager of PSG.
“He knows what it takes to succeed at the highest level. That is what he brings.
“When someone has been four times European champion, it can’t happen by luck. The man has something special and we all trust him and follow him.”
