Popular Post Villaphan04 Posted May 9, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted May 9, 2023 (edited) Quote Unai Emery enters the room inside Bodymoor Heath training ground and approaches the computer screen for our Zoom call. Dressed in his training gear with slick black hair, the Aston Villa manager looks relaxed. It is a day off in England, so it's forgivable to excuse his calm demeanor, a contrast to his energetic touchline persona. But then again, this is how we almost always perceive the 51-year-old before and after matches. Tranquil, focused. This focus is a result of a learning curve and a chance for redemption. ... Fast-forward to today, and Emery's second stint in the Premier League has lifted Villa from a relegation battle to fighting for a chance to play European football next season. When his appointment was announced after Steven Gerrard's departure last October, the club was out of the relegation zone due only to goals scored. Now, in the space of six months, Villa sit in eighth place (54 points) with three matches remaining. Over our conversation, Emery's obsession with personal stories and how football fans are connected to the game comes to the fore, not least because of his family's relationship to the game. "I am from a traditional football family. From Real Union of Irun, in the north of Spain," says Emery, who is also the owner of Union, who play in the third tier of Spanish football. "They are one of the founding members of LaLiga. My grandfather was a goalkeeper. A cup winner. My father also followed this footballing tradition." Emery coached in Spain, Russia and France before coming to the Premier League. The first chapter in English football served as a lesson, after which he won a record fourth Europa League title and reached a semifinal appearance in the Champions League with Villarreal. This time around with Villa, he feels he doesn't just know the league better, he knows the culture, too. "England is England. Every club has its fan base and the fan base is loyal to their club and they go to see their team every Sunday the same way a religious person goes to mass. They are dependent on their team and they love their team. Every match has an incredible atmosphere," Emery says.... More on link Unai Emery on rescuing Aston Villa, European qualification - ESPN Edited May 9, 2023 by blandy extract of article instead of full one 4 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KMitch Posted May 9, 2023 Share Posted May 9, 2023 2 hours ago, Villaphan04 said: Unai Emery on rescuing Aston Villa, European qualification - ESPN Great article from one of my favorite journalists, LME. I tend to hate ESPN's footy coverage with a passion because they tend to hire poor content creators who are usually garbage MLS players/coaches from 20 years ago and/or D-list English dinosaurs who now live in the USA. That said, LME's stuff is always top notch and the fact that he's a Villa fan always repping the club in interviews and on TV is the icing on the cake. He's also doing a Twitter spaces segment in a few minutes where he's going to show the extended interview with Emery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest av1 Posted May 9, 2023 Share Posted May 9, 2023 Not sure I could love Emery any more, but boom, up another couple of notches Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Brumstopdogs Posted May 9, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted May 9, 2023 9 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mantis Posted May 9, 2023 Share Posted May 9, 2023 4 hours ago, Villaphan04 said: More on link Unai Emery on rescuing Aston Villa, European qualification - ESPN I have no idea if it was intentional on ESPN's part, but when I went to watch the video on the website there was first an ad featuring Slippy G and Turkish Airlines. You couldn't make it up. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMAICAN-VILLAN Posted May 9, 2023 Share Posted May 9, 2023 4 minutes ago, Mantis said: I have no idea if it was intentional on ESPN's part, but when I went to watch the video on the website there was first an ad featuring Slippy G and Turkish Airlines. You couldn't make it up. I see him in random ads all the time over here ffs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobsons Choice Posted May 10, 2023 VT Supporter Share Posted May 10, 2023 17 hours ago, Villaphan04 said: More on link Unai Emery on rescuing Aston Villa, European qualification - ESPN I may have been hiding under a rock, but I had no idea until I read the article that he owned a club in the Spanish leagues. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaJ100 Posted May 11, 2023 Share Posted May 11, 2023 On 10/05/2023 at 09:24, HKP90 said: I may have been hiding under a rock, but I had no idea until I read the article that he owned a club in the Spanish leagues. Yeah mentioned it a few pages back, Real Union. Were massive in like 1900 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lichfield Dean Posted May 11, 2023 VT Supporter Share Posted May 11, 2023 33 minutes ago, VillaJ100 said: Yeah mentioned it a few pages back, Real Union. Were massive in like 1900 Just like Villa! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post BOF Posted May 12, 2023 Moderator Popular Post Share Posted May 12, 2023 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mantis Posted May 12, 2023 Share Posted May 12, 2023 Well deserved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyp102 Posted May 12, 2023 Share Posted May 12, 2023 Well deserved, let’s hope he backs it tomorrow with a win Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bose Posted May 12, 2023 Share Posted May 12, 2023 Brilliant and well deserved. Still think I'm dreaming that he's ours. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomav84 Posted May 12, 2023 VT Supporter Share Posted May 12, 2023 excellent! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeadlyDirk Posted May 12, 2023 Share Posted May 12, 2023 5 minutes ago, BOF said: Great news and totally well deserved. Let us hope that he avoids the dreaded Manager of the Month curse.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mantis Posted May 12, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted May 12, 2023 Times we've won Manager of the Month: January 1995 - Little September 1998 - Gregory September 2001 - Gregory April 2007 - O'Neill November 2007 - O'Neill December 2008 - O'Neill April 2010 - O'Neill December 2020 - Smith April 2023 - Emery 6 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDR V2 Posted May 12, 2023 Share Posted May 12, 2023 Excellent news, well deserved Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zab6359 Posted May 12, 2023 Share Posted May 12, 2023 Very well deserved it's a shame we didn't get to play much football in March as that is when the good run started, would be awesome to see a Villa manager win it two months in a row. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Made In Aston Posted May 12, 2023 Share Posted May 12, 2023 1 hour ago, BOF said: Build the statue now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Platt Posted May 12, 2023 VT Supporter Share Posted May 12, 2023 1 hour ago, DeadlyDirk said: Great news and totally well deserved. Let us hope that he avoids the dreaded Manager of the Month curse.... He didn't we lost to bloody Wolves last week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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