The ‘European’ Aston Villa

In the effervescent and passionate stand The Holte End, Villa Park’s raucous south stand, where players and coaches are hated and loved with equal intensity, a giant banner with the number 1,000 and the image of Unai Emery He wanted to pay tribute to the Hondarribia coach for his charisma and good results. The Basque coach is well-loved in Birmingham, because, in just a year and a half on the job, he has brought enthusiasm back to ‘The Villans’, who are just one step away from regaining their place among the ‘greats’ of Europe, whose memory is always linked and connected to the only European Cup they won in 1982.

On the day of his 1,000th game as a coach, which coincided with the match against Lille in the Europe Conference League, Birmingham’s multi-ethnic fans were present. Emery to express your gratitude. Be the Prince Guillermo from England, devoted Aston Villa fan, with his son georgeto applaud him too, on a special day for a Emery excited These add to the passion that the Villa is evoking, in its 150th anniversary year. They are one step away from qualifying for the next Champions League, in fourth place, and will be looking to reach their first European final in 42 years, if they can eliminate Greek Olympiakos in the semifinals to be played in May 2 and 9. .

The motto ‘The giant is waking up’ read around Villa Park well reflects, as a metaphor, the club’s current state of mind. The ability of the methodical Basque coach (Hondarribia, 1971) restored the faith of the fans, providing Emery all kinds of praise. After 18 months of work, Aston Villa are once again among the best, with a ‘strong mentality’, as the coach usually repeats in his press conferences. Emery It gave the ‘villains’ a big boost, giving them back, above all, their ambition. He is now the only remaining representative of the Premier League in European competitions, having moved to the owners of the club, the Egyptian. Nassef Sawiris and the American Wesley Edensto offer him an extension of his contract until 2027. As a clear sign of commitment to the project, Emery he signed without hesitation.

Watkins’ 19 goals

Emery has transformed the club since taking over from Steven Gerrard 18 months ago. He took Villa to seventh place last season and, when they face Chelsea in the Premier tomorrow, Aston Villa will do so in fourth place, six points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, in fifth place, albeit lower the two games. Spurs face leaders Arsenal on Sunday in a heated ‘North London derby’, with just four rounds remaining.

Last week had a big impact for the ‘villains’, after defeating the leader of the Premier League Arsenal, at the Emirates (0-2), qualified for the Europe Conference League, with victory on penalties in Lille, and add a clear victory against Bournemouth Andoni Iraola (3-1). Villa’s good results cannot be understood without the contribution of their goalscorer, Ollie Watkins. From the hand of Emery, with whom he worked individually in tactical and physical aspects, the English international transformed himself, becoming the third leading scorer in the English league (19 goals), and the first in assists (12). Probably, because of his influence, he is the player of the year in England. The success of Watkins It is not isolated, because it includes Emery They have also managed to improve other key players, such as McGuin, Douglas Luiz, Konsa either Bailey, thanks to double specific training sessions at the Bodymoor Heath facilities. Here, in a rare atmosphere of silence, with his ‘Spanish group’ of assistants, who form Damian Vidagany, Pako Ayestarán and Monchispends his days, in long days, Unai Emery, which is a very personal ‘laboratory’ of tactical production. Hour and a half video sessions to study matches have become popular among players, but they are a key to improving the whole group.

The calm of Bodymoor Heath

‘Together, Prepared, Fearless’, are the three words the players read on the walls of the massive gym where they train, in a beautiful facility outside Birmingham, in the North Warwickshire district. It is located close to The Belfry Golf Club and Middleton Lakes Reserve, in one of the most rural areas of the West Midlands. Because of the tranquility, in contrast to the hustle and bustle of Birmingham, England’s second most populous city, many of Villa’s players live in the area, allowing them to travel quickly to training sessions.

The owners edens and Sawiris They gave total autonomy to Emery since he arrived, and his influence was noticeable in all the decisions, that he was not at Arsenal, in his first experience of English football. His contract is already at the height of commitment, almost 9.5 million annually, among the ‘top’ of European coaches, so there is no possibility that he Emery listen to offers from Bayern or Liverpool.

The weather may be the worst thing about Birmingham, but the constant rain in winter and spring, or the fog that often envelops the city, as one of its hallmarks, does not deter. Emery, already has 11 titles in his career, feels that he has arrived at the perfect place to work. A perfect destination, in a club hungry for titles, to root and succeed again