Unai Emery has received praise from Joe Cole for the job he has done at Aston Villa since taking over the position last season. The Spaniard led Villa to a European finish for the first time since 2010–11, a season in which Peter Crouch said Emery had “an unbelievable European pedigree.” Before Villa’s game against Brighton, Cole told TNT Sports, “You have to give this man so much credit.”
Unai Emery has taken Aston Villa “to another level” since his appointment last season, TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole has insisted, while Peter Crouch described his pedigree in Europe as “unbelievable”.
The Spaniard, who has managerial experience with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Sevilla and Villarreal listed on his CV, took over from Steven Gerrard at Villa Park last October with the club sitting 16th in the table.
In his first game in charge, he guided Villa to a convincing 3-1 win over Manchester United, kickstarting a remarkable rise to seventh in the table, securing the club European football for the first time since 2011 in the meantime.
Ahead of Villa’s match against Brighton, live on TNT Sports, Cole was full of praise for the job Emery has done at the Midlands club so far.
“You have to give this man so much credit,” he said. “I do think Steven Gerrard had a difficult spell, but he’d put a structure underneath for this club, money was spent.
“But [Emery] has come in and taken it to another level, so all credit to him.”
Villa are competing in the UEFA Conference League this season, and although Emery has never managed in the competition, he has a very impressive record in Europe.
He has won four Europa League titles, three at Sevilla and one at Villarreal, and fellow TNT Sports pundit Peter Crouch is excited to see where he can take this Villa side.
“I’m intrigued to see how they fare in Europe,” he said. “Obviously, his pedigree in Europe has been unbelievable over the years with various clubs.
“It will be interesting to see how he attacks it because sometimes the importance is in Europe, and sometimes you might not do so well in the league, so it will be interesting to see how he plays it.”
Villa are competing in the UEFA Conference League this season, and although Emery has never managed in the competition, he has a very impressive record in Europe.
He has won four Europa League titles, three at Sevilla and one at Villarreal, and fellow TNT Sports pundit Peter Crouch is excited to see where he can take this Villa side.
“I’m intrigued to see how they fare in Europe,” he said. “Obviously, his pedigree in Europe has been unbelievable over the years with various clubs.
“It will be interesting to see how he attacks it because sometimes the importance is in Europe, and sometimes you might not do so well in the league, so it will be interesting to see how he plays it.”
Cole added: “If we were in the dressing room and playing with him [in charge], and the manager comes in who has won the competition [Europa League] four times, every word, you would be on it, wouldn’t you?”
Crouch is aware of the impact Emery’s success in European competition can have on a team striving to compete on all fronts, despite the fact that Emery has an exceptional record there.
I have participated in European campaigns when the squad was very small—you really just had your starting 11—he said.
The teams are a little bit bigger now, but I recall when I was at Stoke City and we made the Europa League. We did slightly worse in the league because we had to travel to Europe and then return to play on Sundays.
It does take a toll, but I think they are strong enough now to handle it.
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