Aston Villa appointed Unai Emery as their manager on this day three years ago.
Friday’s edition of Marca has an article covering the work done by the manager at Aston Villa.
When Emery arrived at Villa Park, they had only two wins from 11 matches that season. The Villans finished 14th and seventh the following campaign.
Emery guided Aston Villa to a top four finish during the 2023/24 season and qualified for the Champions League.
Marca heap praise on Emery for improving results and status of the Premier League club. They state his impact on the English football ‘has been more than considerable’ as he’s helped restore the club that has ‘been in intensive care for decades.’
According to the outlet, ‘everything has changed’ at Aston Villa since the 53-year-old took charge.
Since Emery’s arrival, the Villans collected the fourth most points in the league, averaging 1.78 points. Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool are ahead of them. Marca state: ‘The great miracle is keeping up with these teams, considering the difference in investment.’
The Spanish newspaper also had a chat with Emery, who has given an insight into their spending.
“During this period, we’ve sold players with high market value, but we’ve also reinvested in good players and increased salaries for players who would have been impossible to keep before. We have an organised and efficient club,” he said.
The former Villarreal manager has also praised Aston Villa’s owners for their support.
“When I arrived here, the ownership gave me the opportunity to build a culture. They gave me a project with every meaning, surrounding me with my staff and executives. It’s a difficult situation to find in football. I’m grateful to Wes, Nassef, and Michael for always fulfilling their role and for the responsibility they’ve given me,” Emery explained.
Marca also point out Emery has managed to create a ‘stable structure’, and it’s helped to take Aston Villa to another level.