We’re delighted to welcome Sky Sports journalist Dan Bardell as our exclusive Aston Villa columnist, as he’ll be providing his thoughts on the club’s most pressing issues each week…
Dan Bardell is “surprised” that Aston Villa have yet to offer Unai Emery a new contract, despite hearing that new terms were set to be offered at the end of last season.
The Spaniard has done an outstanding job at Villa over the last year, leading the club to seventh place in the Premier League and qualification for the Europa Conference League.
The Villans manager has also overseen an impressive start to the season, with his team currently fifth in the table and just a point behind the top four.
Bardell believes Villa don’t need to be concerned about Emery leaving at the moment, but admits that they will need to qualify for the Champions League in the next two years if they want to keep him.
“I think clubs will look at it because you can’t deny the job he’s done at Villa, but Unai Emery will know he’s been given everything he’s asked for and everything he’s wanted since he’s come to Villa,” Bardell said exclusively to Villa News.The entire club has now been built around him.
“A lot of the people who work there do so because of him.” Villa have built this football department around him and the triangle of power with Monchi and Damian Vidagany, who are really Emery hires if we’re being completely honest because they’re people he’s previously worked with and trusts.
“So, the entire football club is now centered on Emery, who has been able to bring in the players he desired while also improving the players who were already there.” As a manager, this guy is the real deal.
“I knew he was a top-class manager when Villa hired him, but after a year of watching Villa and seeing an improvement in a lot of the players who are already there, as well as what he’s done to transform the football side from top to bottom, as well as the European trophies he’s won at other clubs, I genuinely believe Villa have a world-class manager here.”
“Some of the teams that may be interested in him have been a graveyard for both players and managers.” I don’t think Villa needs to be concerned about it right now.
“However, I heard rumblings about a new contract at the end of last season and am surprised it hasn’t happened yet.” I would have thought Villa, as head coach, would have given him a title change to manager and a new contract. I still believe it will happen, but it hasn’t yet.
“He’s said he’s staying at Villa for the long haul.” Villa needs to improve, progress, and qualify for the major European competitions because he is an ambitious manager who wants to win.
“I believe he’ll stay at Villa for the next three or four years, but he wants to play in the Champions League.” I believe Villa must qualify for the Champions League in the coming years in order to keep him and progress in his name.”
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