Richard Dunne featured in 95 Premier League games for Aston Villa
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Richard Dunne
Richard Dunne featured in 95 Premier League games for Aston Villa
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Former Aston Villa defender, Richard Dunne has heaped praise on head coach Unai Emery after the club reached the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal.
Villa comfortably got the better of Belgian champions Club Brugge, winning 6-1 over two legs to set up a last eight clash with Ligue 1 champions, PSG.
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Dunne, who amassed more than 100 appearances for Aston Villa, spoke to BetWay Insider, about the recent successes at Villa Park under Emery.
"He’s done really well. I mean, they had a couple of seasons where things obviously weren’t great," The ex-Villa centre-back said.
"They got relegated and managed to get themselves back up and just about survived. Again, it looks like a club that had a plan to get into the situation that they’re in. It’s taken a couple of changes in manager with a lot of new players coming in and out and all that sort of stuff but the manager seems to have high demands of the players."
Villa's Champions League campaign is the first time the club has competed in the continent's premium contest since the 1982/83 season, when it went under the European Cup banner.
Dunne added: "Obviously last season they got into that Champions League spot by being a really solid side and they’ve added to it again this year with the signings they’ve made.
I think trying to balance the Premier League and the Champions League this year they’ve found, at times, a little bit difficult, but I mean the Champions League season has been fantastic for them.
They have a quarter-final now to look forward to knowing that it’s going to be PSG. Getting through is something they’ll obviously be desperately wanting to achieve.
Yeah, so it’s been a huge turn around and a huge achievement by Emery to get the club into the situation that they’re in."
Aside from an impressive club career, Dunne managed pick up 80 caps for his native Republic of Ireland, scoring eight times and being picked for the country's 2002 World Cup squad.
But, the former Ireland stalwart has picked his choice for the nation's greatest player of all time.
"For me growing up it was always Paul McGrath," Dunne admitted. "Someone I idolised and think he was an unbelievable player.
"He had a hugely successful career and was a player who could play in many different positions. I mean there’s been loads – obviously John Giles, Liam Brady, Roy Keane, Robbie Keane, Damien Duff – there’s been so many good players in recent history.
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"But since he was my favourite growing up it would probably be Paul McGrath."
Book your flights and trains - Villa fans!
The European dream is still alive and now Aston Villa must travel to Paris to face the mighty PSG.
The French giants are the quarter final opponents after they conquered Liverpool, and now Unai Emery will be plotting their downfall as Villa continue to impress in the Champions League.
UEFA have now confirmed that Villa will play their first leg against PSG at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, April 9, with kick-off at 8pm. The second leg, which will be played at Villa Park, shall kick off at 8pm on Tuesday, April 15. Villa will confirm ticket details in due course.
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