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Dan Bardell reacts to what Jamie Carragher said about 'exceptional' Aston Villa man
We’re delighted to welcome Sky Sports journalist Dan Bardell as our exclusive Aston Villa columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the club…
Jamie Carragher was right about Unai Emery being the third-best manager in the Premier League, according to Dan Bardell.
Speaking on Sky Sports Super Sunday on 12 November, the pundit said Villa are a “better-coached team” under the Spaniard than Manchester United are with Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford hot seat.
The former Liverpool defender added that Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola lead the way but due to Emery’s “body of work” and success in the Europa League – a competition he’s won four times – he believes that puts the Villans boss in third place.
Bardell believes Emery is an “exceptional manager” and deserves to be placed high up on the list after how he’s turned the fortunes around at Villa Park in just 12 months.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bardell said: “I think he’s probably right. Obviously, Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp speak for themselves after what they’ve done in the Premier League.
“But if you look across whole careers and trophies won, what managers have done at clubs they have built, I think it’s perfectly fair that Emery’s third.
“I think he’s a really high-level manager, someone Villa are looking to have, someone who I’m really glad Villa identified because he’s changed this football club from top to bottom.
“The club is now built in his image, nothing is really done on the football side without his say-so. A lot of people that are working in the football department are his guys, so the trust is there.
“I think Carragher is right, you only have to look at what he’s won and done to Villa in 12 months to know he’s an exceptional manager, so he’d be in my top three as well.”
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