.jpg)
5 months ago
23 ARTICLE AD
If Aston Villa wants to make him their Sir Alex Ferguson, it’s not for nothing. Before the arrival of Unai Emery on the bench in November 2022, Aston Villa were struggling to maintain their position. But since the former Villarreal coach moved to the United Kingdom, the Villans have been constantly playing for the top of the table and European positions, grabbing a few places during the second season. Seventh at the end of the first exercise (best ranking since 2010), qualifying the team for the Europa Conference League where they are still in the running to win the trophy (in the semi-final against Olympiakos), Villa is now in the race to qualify for the Champions League. Fourth in the Premier League before hosting Chelsea this Saturday, the Birmingham team is close to rediscovering the greatness they have known in the past.
Because if the two clubs of Manchester, Liverpool and Chelsea are often considered as the teams of the Big 4 – modern – in England, Aston Villa is a historic club of the championship. With its 7 championship titles, its 7 FA Cups and its 5 league cups, Villa shined across the Channel, especially in the 80s, corresponding to the golden age of the club thanks to the industrialization of the city . The icing on the cake was victory in the Champion Clubs’ Cup in 1982. And 40 years later, here the Villans are back at the forefront, ready to put Aston Villa back at the top of England. This revival is the fruit of work lasting more than a year and a half, with Unai Emery as conductor.
Unai Emery’s masterstroke
The former Paris Saint-Germain technician revitalized this team in distress before his arrival, with his ingredients. Intense pressing and a modern rapid transition game disrupting the leaders of this championship. Unai Emery and his men won six points from six against Arsenal, three from six against Manchester City, and three against Chelsea (before the second leg on Saturday) and Tottenham. Only Liverpool caused problems (only one point in two games) among the big guys. However, the Spaniard did not have to greatly modify his squad to get there. He relied on strong elements of his team. It is often stated that you need a good goalkeeper and an efficient striker to win titles. Aston Villa have both. Criticized for his sometimes irritating behavior for opposing supporters, Emiliano Martinez is one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, and even in Europe. In front, Ollie Watkins is the third scorer in the championship with 19 goals, only one less than Cole Palmer and Erling Haaland, leaders of the ranking. We must add to these two men captain John McGinn, figure of this eleven and transformed under the orders of Unai Emery, Lucas Digne, appreciated by the 52-year-old technician, the rock Diego Carlos or even the youth of Jacob Ramsey among others , to obtain an oiled collective, reinforced by players intelligently recruited by management.
Some of these players will be called upon this summer, but the club is working well under the orders of Monchi, director of football, who worked at Sevilla and AS Roma. The Spaniard, who has worked with Unai Emery in the past, is renowned for his ability to find the right players for his coach, thanks to his impressive network of recruiters. Proof of this is that the only two expensive signings last summer were Moussa Diaby and Pau Torres, two important players in Villa’s squad this season. Youri Tielemans (free), Nicolo Zaniolo (€5 million) and the return of Kortney Hause from loan are elements recruited at low cost, these also having a good season. A structured, united club, with a coherent project which is long-term as proven by the extension of Unai Emery’s contract until 2027 while he is being courted throughout Europe, and with a clear objective: to bring back Aston Villa at the forefront.
