BBC pundit shares Unai Emery exit verdict after dramatic changes
We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park…
Unai Emery will have no intention of departing Aston Villa should any clubs show an interest in him, according to Alan Hutton.
The Spanish head coach has worked wonders across his 14 months at Villa Park and has the Villans in firm top-four contention this season.
Villa entered the weekend third in the Premier League, two points off leaders Liverpool, and are through to the UEFA Conference League last 16.
The sky is very much the limit for Emery and his Villa side, which will inevitably lead to concerns he may be plucked by a so-called bigger name.
However, former Villa defender Hutton does not see any reason why the former Arsenal boss would consider leaving the West Midlands outfit.
“What he’s done in such a short period of time, he’s transformed the team dramatically,” Hutton told Villa News.
“He’s got a lot of pulling power when it comes to signings and different things, and he has a very close relationship with [sporting director] Monchi.
“Then you’ve got owners who want to back the manager and give him full power for what he wants, so why would you leave?
“When you’re at a team moving forward, there’s no reason to go anywhere else.
“They’re in the Champions League spots at this moment in time – who knows what they can go on and do.”
In other Aston Villa news, a fringe player looks certain to be handed a first Premier League start of the season when the Villans face Brentford.