Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has had his future discussed as his first full campaign at Villa Park nears a close, with former Villan Darren Bent giving his verdict on one scenario.
Aston Villa will be somewhat relieved that Steven Gerrard plummeted the squad into a relegation position at the start of the 2022/23 campaign, with his dismissal leading to the arrival of Unai Emery.
The Spaniard arrived at Villa Park from Villarreal in October 2022, bringing with him Premier League experience after the 18 months he spent at Arsenal.
At Villa, the four-time Europa League winner was handed a different task to the one in North London however, in his short time at the club, Emery has taken the Villans closer towards his former club.
Sitting in fourth place, Villa are in good stead to secure a Champions League finish this season, keeping up with some of the league’s best to showcase just how much the manager has inspired progression.
Considering the sensational job Emery has done at Villa in under two campaigns, it’s unsurprising that talk of his future has already surfaced.
Unai Emery’s future discussed amid Aston Villa success
Speaking hypothetically on Ben Foster’s Fozcast podcast, former Villan Darren Bent was involved in a discussion surrounding Emery’s future if another club came poaching.
When quizzed about the idea of the Spaniard joining Manchester United, Bent outlined why he believed the Villa boss would snub the opportunity.
“I almost feel like with Unai Emery, I’m sure he wants another crack at a top job. He had a crack at Arsenal, I think it came too soon for him after Wenger. I think if Villa upped his money, it just seems more stable.”
“I know Manchester United in terms of size of the club, arguably the biggest in the world, you’ve also got to look at the now.”
“This is not the same Manchester United from 10 years ago, it’s not the same club. They’re completely different to what they were. I think he’d stay.”
Unai Emery has a strong project underway at Aston Villa
Bent’s comments are understandable, placing the talk of finances aside, the project that Emery has built at Aston Villa makes him comfortable, to say the least.
While Manchester United are a club of unbelievable stature, at present, Villa are the stronger club on the pitch, thanks to Emery’s work since his arrival.
Not only is the Spaniard not under any pressure at Villa Park, but he has self-sourced a new level of performance and expectation in the Midlands, making for a particularly exciting journey ahead.
Given the scrutiny and lack of time the boss had at Arsenal, it would be difficult to imagine him jumping at the chance of taking over a United side that is as in transition as the one currently at Old Trafford.
Luckily, the talk was of a hypothetical nature, with the Spaniard’s future at Villa looking strong, particularly with the Champions League in sight.
The post 'I'm sure...': Darren Bent says what Aston Villa boss Unai Emery would do if Man Utd came knocking appeared first on Aston Villa News.