Keep your hands off Unai Emery

It was always a matter of time before the media turned their eyes to Aston Villa’s form over the past 12 months and our wonderful manager, Unai Emery. Only Manchester City have picked up more points than Aston Villa in 2023 while Arsenal equalled Villa’s record.

From a personal point of view, I wasn’t ready for it and truth be told, I’m not too fond of it.

Unless you are of Arsenal persuasion (who seem to have some weird obsession with Emery), football fans up and down the country have been turning their eye to what Emery has achieved since he rocked up at Villa Park on October 24th, last year.

I even had a Wolverhampton Wanderers supporter tell me just last night that he was slightly jealous of our manager, the football we play and the impact he is having.

It’s one thing having opposition supporters admire his work but it is a completely different situation when the media and pundits start to link him with potential other jobs.

Andy Goldstein and Manchester United

For those who don’t know Andy Goldstein works on the drivetime show on TalkSPORT with former Villan, Darren Bent. He recently stated that he would love Unai Emery at Manchester United and you can’t blame him.

The issue I have with this is Andy’s job is to create a reaction which generates calls and revenue for his employer but for some reason, this particular opinion has gained traction.

As you can hear in the video below, Andy can be heard talking to Bent where the former Villa striker states “Emery wouldn’t leave Villa right now. They’re more stable than United.”

To which Goldstein replies: “Of course he would! That’s silly. All managers have ambition…”

Darren: “Emery wouldn’t leave Villa right now. They’re more stable than United.”

Andy: “Of course he would! That’s silly. All managers have ambition…”

Andy Goldstein & Darren Bent debate if Unai Emery would want to join #MUFC pic.twitter.com/gbDc7dh9Pq

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) October 31, 2023

I don’t like to label big and small clubs as they can be measured in different ways but there is no denying that Manchester United are a bigger club than Aston Villa. They are clearly in a mess on and off the pitch right now but things can change with the right hierarchy.

As things seem to be turning a corner at B6, these are not the conversations and links I want to be hearing or reading.

Unai could be onto something special

I have made no secret about my love for Unai Emery since his appointment. The appointment was a coup for Aston Villa but it also highlights the ambitions of the club owners and I hope at some stage we are in a position where if Unai did decide to move on for whatever reason, Villa would be in a situation similar to that at Brighton where we already know who we want to replace him. The issue is, I don’t imagine we are even close to being in that situation.

I hope that because the Villa hierarchy has put so much faith in Emery and allowed him to structure the whole club around him, will mean he sticks around for quite a while.

The club have surrounded Emery with those he trusts with the likes of Monchi, Paco Ayestaran and Pablo Villanueva (amongst others) joining him. They have tailored the structure of the club around his philosophy.

We have given Unai Emery the keys to the house and allowed him to run it as he pleases.

Now I know this talk is just that right now but at some point, some time in the future whether it be Manchester United or another so-called top club, someone will start knocking on the door.

I know money isn’t an issue for the Villa owners so I don’t see that being a situation and it will all come down to the man himself. I just hope he realises the love and trust he has at Villa Park from both those within and supporters and continues to finish the project he has only just started.