Unai Emery unbeaten record stats show Aston Villa possess the mettle for European football
Unai Emery’s record since taking the managerial role at Aston Villa has somewhat gone under the radar, but the club have become resilient and hard to beat under the Spaniard.
After taking the reins from Steven Gerrard in October, Emery has transformed Villa from a side destined to be in the midst of a Premier League relegation battle to a team with their eyes firmly set on a late push for European football.
A record of eight wins, two draws and four defeats speaks volumes for the job the Spaniard has undertaken, but the fact he has recorded three separate unbeaten months of football since arriving is even more astonishing.
Despite a poor February in which Villa lost consecutively to Leicester City, Manchester City and Arsenal, Emery has gone unbeaten in the Premier League in November, January and March – highlighting the mettle he has instilled in his Aston Villa team.
Considering his side only played in one game throughout December – a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool – due to the Qatar World Cup, the miraculous turnaround under the former Gunners boss is made to look even better.
After sitting in the Villa Park dugout for just under six months, Emery is already fifth for the most months unbeaten as an Aston Villa manager.
Next on the Spaniard’s list of managers to overtake are Ron Atkinson and David O’Leary, who recorded four separate unbeaten months before reaching Brian Little with five.
John Gregory (13) and Martin O’Neill (14) may seem a long way away for Emery to reach, but if he remains in the hot seat for a sustained period of time, there is no doubt he can get close to this record.
Although European football is an outside shot this season, with the club currently sitting four points off the top six with 11 games of the season remaining, Emery, who has won four Europa League titles during his managerial career, looks to be the perfect man to take the club back into the upper echelons of the Premier League.
With the backing of owners Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris in the summer transfer window and hopefully beyond, Villa could be eyeing up much further riches with their Spanish tactician at the helm.
In other Aston Villa news, an academy talent is ready for an Unai Emery baptism after what he has done in the Championship.