Paul Scholes shot down over Aston Villa and Manchester United remark
Don Goodman has dismissed Paul Scholes’ recent remark that Aston Villa boss Unai Emery “would walk” to Manchester United if offered the managerial job.
Scholes made the comment on The Overlap [28 October] as United were searching for a replacement for Erik ten Hag, who has now been succeeded by Ruben Amorim.
However, in the view of Goodman, there would be no obvious reason for Emery to swap Villa Park for Old Trafford if he had indeed been approached by United.
“I understand where Paul Scholes is coming from, with his Manchester United hat on,” Goodman told Villa News. “They were a dominant Premier League force during his playing days, but they’re not that any more.
“Manchester United would have had a hell of a fight on their hands convincing Emery to give up on this Villa project he’s a long way down the road to delivering. It wouldn’t have been as straightforward as just going out and getting him.
“At the moment, Manchester United are an average Premier League team; Aston Villa are a very good one who are also playing in the Champions League. It would have taken one hell of a sell from Manchester United to attract Unai Emery away from Aston Villa.”
Unai Emery is at Aston Villa to stay
Emery remains pound-for-pound the best manager anywhere in the Premier League. His work at Villa Park has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Having done the hard work in building Villa up to become a side not only competing in the Champions League but on course for the knockouts, there is absolutely no reason for him to leave.
As Goodman says, once upon a time a move to Manchester United would have been tempting for any manager.
As of now, though, there is a strong argument to be made that Villa can offer Emery – or any manager – more than United.
As it is, Amorim is now set to take charge at Old Trafford and this rumour was nipped in the bud before it had really got anywhere.
In other Aston Villa news, Emery has been accused of making a rare misstep at Villa Park.
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