Tyrone Mings has gone from Aston Villa outcast under Steven Gerrard to a key player and one of the top earners after signing a new deal under Unai Emery… the centre back is here to stay and may regain the armband one day
From fearing for his future to being made one of his club’s top earners in the space of three months, Tyrone Mings has proved he should never be underestimated.
The Aston Villa centre-back has signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal that pushes him close to goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez at the top of the club’s pay scale, after convincing manager Unai Emery early on that he could play a significant role in his long-term plans.
Mings is a self-assured man yet the endorsement of a proven coach like Emery was exactly the boost he needed.
Former boss Steven Gerrard let it be known early on that he did not rate Mings and was open to selling him last summer.
He then stripped him of the captaincy on the eve of the new season, before questioning the 29-year-old’s attitude after an opening-day defeat at Bournemouth – a game in which the injured Mings did not play.
Tyrone Mings is back to being a key man at Aston Villa after signing a new long-term contract
New manager Unai Emery (pictured) has quickly made the defender a key part of his plans
Emery has taken a different view. Mings has been a fixture under the Spaniard and midway through last month, it became clear that Villa were keen to improve his terms, with Mings’ previous deal due to expire at the end of next season. From there, agreement was reached relatively quickly.
‘Since the day I arrived, this has always been the place for me & I’m really happy to extend my contract here,’ Mings tweeted. ‘Thank you for all of your support over the last 4 years & I’m excited to see what we can still achieve together.’
Mings’ style will always divide opinion yet his importance to Villa was clear as they produced a shapeless defensive display in his absence last weekend, when they were beaten 3-1 at Manchester City. He hopes to recover from a thigh problem in time to face Arsenal on Saturday.
‘I am very happy with him,’ said Emery. ‘His commitment is great and his performances are great. He has played a lot of game and he is well suited to my ideas. When the club spoke to me about the possibility of ending his contract, of course I agreed.’
Emery rates Mings and the feeling is mutual. Mings has been hugely impressed by the level of detail in the Spaniard’s analysis as he tries to change Villa’s playing style.
Since Emery arrived, Villa have made mistakes trying to play from defence that have led to goals, notably against Leicester when Boubacar Kamara was robbed in his own box, producing an equaliser for James Maddison.
Yet Sportsmail understands the former Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain coach is rarely harsh with his players for such errors, reasoning that they are a consequence of the changes he is trying to make. Instead, Emery loses his rag when his team play a long pass forward that presents the opposition with the ball.
Rather than highlight a mistake that directly resulted in a goal, Emery will often rewind to a much earlier passage of play.
Villa produced a poor defensive display in Mings’ absence in a 3-1 loss vs Man City on Sunday
He has used Brighton as an example to his players of how a team can successfully overhaul their method – under Chris Hughton, they were dogged relegation battlers, before evolving into a stylish attacking side with Graham Potter and Roberto De Zerbi.
The long-term plan is for Villa to defend with a high line, supported by a goalkeeper who excels with the ball at his feet.
The latter detail presents an intriguing challenge for Emiliano Martinez but it seems Mings will be there for the journey.
Few would have guessed last summer that he would have outlasted Gerrard at Villa Park. Yet outlast him he has – and who would bet against Mings regaining the armband one day?
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