NSWE have Unai Emery to thank after latest £625m development at Villa Park
Dan Bardell believes NSWE has Unai Emery to thank for the progress of Aston Villa this season after they were named as the 22nd most-valuable football team in the world.
Forbes announced their football club rich list on 23 May with the Villans’ current value being registered at approximately £625m.
This makes the Midlanders worth more than the likes of Newcastle United, Fulham and Crystal Palace with each named in the top 30.
This value has been boosted by Villa securing Champions League qualification next season which is the crowning achievement of Emery at Villa Park.
Sky Sports and talkSPORT journalist Bardell has suggested that NSWE’s success is thanks in part to the Spaniard and his work in the past 18 months.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bardell said: “I think if the owners want to thank one person for that it’s Unai Emery. Everything was in place at the club but didn’t have the brains behind the operations on the football side from the manager. They’ve now got that and more.
“They always wanted to be in the Champions League but let’s face it before Emery came in the players and infrastructure might have been there but there was no one there to drag it over the line.
“Emery has done that at lightning speed and the rest of the club is trying to catch up to the football side. The owners have been absolutely wonderful, they’ve been brilliant but Villa are where they are right now because of Unai Emery.
“As long as he is there, Villa will continue to progress and move up lists like Forbes’, the guy is a genius who Villa are very lucky to have and long may it continue.”
Here’s to you Unai Emery, Aston Villa loves you
Cast your minds back to Steven Gerrard’s time at Villa Park and things weren’t going to plan as annoying interviews were being matched by shocking results.
A 3-0 defeat to Fulham was enough for NSWE to pull the trigger and get rid of the former Rangers boss.
The owners opted for a tried and trusted head coach who had a track record at improving clubs and carrying them to glory.
Emery has done exactly that with the Villans after achieving Conference League qualification in his first campaign.
This was superseded by the most recent season which saw Villa achieve Champions League football for the first time since they won it.
NSWE paid an initial £30m for a 55 per cent stake in the club before an additional £30m was enough to remove Tony Xia after promotion [Birmingham Live].
To think the club is now worth 100 times that £60m is crazy and is down to the work of their owners and their masterstroke to bring in Emery.
In other Aston Villa news, Cameron Archer stay could depend on Jhon Duran future after Chelsea links.
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