At 0:30 GMT on September 15, the 4th round of the English Premier League will usher in an eye-catching duel as Aston Villa will host Everton. The game is of great significance for Belgian midfielder Amadou Ouane, who has just joined Villa, as he will be facing his old club Everton for the first time as an opponent.
Onana moved from Lille to Everton in the summer of 2022 for nearly 40 million euros, and although the team consistently hovered near the relegation zone of the Premier League table during his two seasons there, the experience was extraordinarily valuable to him. In an interview with the Mirror, Onana fondly recalled his growth and transformation at Everton: "I grew there not only as a player, but also as a man. Those difficult moments with my teammates made me learn how to stay calm under pressure and how to better handle various situations."
He singled out the relegation battle with Bournemouth in the final round of the 22-23 season, a game in which Abdoulaye Doucoure's world goal helped his side survive a 1:0 thriller, which still haunts him to this day: "That game was so heavy that I get a chill whenever I mention it. But it was also one of my proudest moments at Everton because we pulled through that together."
This summer, Onana joined Aston Villa for a much higher price - €59.4 million - and has found a new sense of belonging and motivation here. He admits that the Villa manager's tactical philosophy and coaching ability were key factors in his decision: "He is a top coach who has proven himself in different leagues. His possession philosophy gives me the freedom and confidence to realize my full potential."
Speaking about the upcoming showdown with Everton, Onana said that although he is grateful to his old bosses, he will give his best on the field to help Villa achieve victory: "It will be a tough game, but I am ready for it. I will do whatever it takes to beat them and get more points for Villa."
Currently, Onana has scored 2 goals in the Premier League this season, and is one of the key scorers in Villa's team. Villa is also in the seventh place of the table with a record of 2 wins and 1 loss, showing a good athletic performance. In contrast, Everton are at the bottom of the table with three losses and are in desperate need of a win to get out of their predicament. This matchup is not only a test of Onana's personal emotions, but also a battle of strength and will between the two teams.
