Aston Villa have done well this season despite their poor run of form recently.
Unai Emery has led them well to the Champions League and Premier League this season, but it hasn’t been an easy journey for one of his promising summer signings.
Defender Ian Maatsen joined the Premier League from Chelsea when he could also have joined Borussia Dortmund, where he spent the second half of last season on loan.
The Dutch defender enjoyed a successful season at Dortmund and looked set to be a crucial member of the club’s starting line-up following his move to Villa Park.
However, his spell alongside Emery has proved disastrous and, in the opinion of former Dutch international Rafael van der Vaart, he made a mistake by joining Villa.
“I think if you’re in Dortmund and you go to Aston Villa…”, Van der Vaart told Ziggo Sport, as reported Sports testimony.
“With all due respect to Aston Villa, but then you really have to play the basics. Things can go a bit wrong, but I think it’s a shame he plays so little.
“At Dortmund he was fantastic and a basic player. It would have been nice to stay! I understand, money and I know everything. But I think it’s a shame.”
Ian Maatsen would regret his time at Aston Villa
Last season, Maatsen was a regular starter for Dortmund and helped the club reach the Champions League final where they were defeated by Real Madrid.
He has spent most of his season on the bench and that has not only worked against Villa but also against the growth of the player.
The left-back has played just 530 minutes of football this season and this has completely stunted the player’s progression.
