Barcelona danger to Aston Villa fans emerges as Unai Emery exit verdict shared
Don Goodman believes only a club such as Barcelona or Real Madrid would be able to lure Unai Emery away from Aston Villa.
Emery has worked wonders across 16 months at Villa Park, having guided the club away from trouble and into Europe in his first season.
The Spaniard has the Villans on course for Champions League football next season as they currently sit fourth in the Premier League.
The Liverpool job will become vacant in the summer, while questions have been raised over Mauricio Pochettino’s future at Chelsea.
However, Goodman does not believe Emery will leave Villa unless one of the big two came calling from his homeland.
“How can you not be impressed by what he’s done?” Goodman told Villa News. “He took them from looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone, then within months he gets them into Europe.
“Not only does he get them into Europe, he starts this season in incredible fashion. Most pundits have decided the title race is between Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal, but Villa are mixing it.”
Mauricio Pochettino future at Chelsea uncertain
Goodman added: “They’re five points off Liverpool, three points off Arsenal, so anyone who’s not impressed by that would blow my mind. Villa’s recruitment has been excellent and the tactical astuteness has been great.
“The Liverpool job’s going to become available, but is he a good option? I’m really not sure. Is he an Arsenal manager? Well he’s been there and it’s highly unlikely he’d go back.
“There aren’t too many bigger clubs around than Villa when you look at the table. Chelsea are they as attractive right now as Villa? I don’t think so.
“If I was a player and had to choose between Villa and Chelsea at this moment in time, I’d be going to the Midlands and not London.
“It’s a difficult one, but if he’s being supported and backed to develop Aston Villa year in, year out to play in Europe, I don’t really see anything bigger and better than Aston Villa in this country.
“Obviously then you have Spanish clubs, with Barcelona in turmoil and Real Madrid, and that’s where the danger to Aston Villa fans could potentially come from, but from the Premier League? I don’t see it.”
Champions League football heading to Villa Park
Emery already has experience of managing a so-called elite club in Paris Saint-Germain, but he did not really have the happiest of times in the French capital.
The same is also true of his time in charge of Arsenal, whereas at Villa he is loving his life and can do no wrong in the eye of supporters right now.
Villa may have disappointingly exited the FA Cup to Chelsea this week, but the Villans are in a much stronger position than the London side at this moment in time.
Some would argue that Villa are experiencing a one-off and that normal service will be resumed next season, but there is no reason this cannot be sustained.
Emery has been well backed, has the support of the fanbase and may well be back managing in the Champions League next season.
If another club came calling, even if it happened to be Barcelona, Emery will know full well from previous experience that the grass is not always greener.
In other Aston Villa news, Emery must consider dropping one of his regulars for the showdown with Manchester United.
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