Neville has delivered his verdict on Unai Emery leaving Villa Park for Manchester United
Unai Emery, manager of Aston Villa, and Michael Carrick during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford
Unai Emery, manager of Aston Villa, and Michael Carrick during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Aston Villa at Old Trafford
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Gary Neville has ruled Unai Emery out as the next manager of Manchester United.
Neville has hailed Aston Villa’s boss as an “exceptional” coach, but does not think Old Trafford chiefs would pick him ahead of Michael Carrick, who is currently in interim charge of the Red Devils.
Emery’s Villa lost 3-1 to Carrick’s United in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Ahead of the match, Jamie Carragher said he felt Emery should be the leading contender to be United’s next boss.
But speaking after the final whistle, Neville disagreed, saying on Sky Sports: “He (Emery) should be in contention because I’ve said before I think he’s the second best manager in the league when it comes to experience in Europe after Pep Guardiola. Mikel Arteta and Arne Slot will have something to say about that and think differently maybe, but Unai Emery is exceptional.
“I can say now I don’t think Manchester United will… if Manchester United finish in the Champions League which I think they will I don’t think they will take Michael Carrick out and put Unai Emery in.
“And that’s not because I think Michael Carrick is a better coach than Unai Emery, I think Unai Emery is exceptional and he’s proved himself all over Europe and won trophies all over Europe.
“However, I just think they’ll think that because of his record previously, maybe at Arsenal, that it’ll be too big a risk to bring him into Manchester United, it’ll be too much of an upheaval and Michael Carrick has got an understanding of what happens here in this club.
“So I don’t think it will be an appointment that will be made.
“I think for Michael Carrick not to be the manager of Manchester United next season it’s going to have to be one of the top managers in the world.
“Tuchel’s not there any more, your Ancelottis, your Enriques, those types of managers who are exceptional and world class.
“Unai Emery is in that category, but maybe just slightly below that sort of top level of Champions League winner, Premier League and La Liga title winning managers, but he’s an exceptional coach.
“I don’t think he will be the manager here next year, but Carra is right, he should be in the running because Manchester United should keep their options open right now because they don’t know what’s going to happen before the end of the season, but I don’t see him being here ahead of Michael Carrick.”
Claret & Blue verdict
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