Unai would give United move RED card – Daz
DARREN Bent believes Unai Emery would snub Manchester United if they offered him the chance to replace Erik ten Hag.
The Spaniard has transformed Aston Villa since arriving in B6 in October 2022.
He has taken a struggling
Premier League side under previous boss Steven Gerrard to become a team chasing Champions League football and a European trophy. The Villans are set to face Lille in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals.
Conversely, Ten Hag has struggled at United after a promising first season at Old Trafford when the Dutchman delivered League Cup glory and a top-four finish.
The Red Devils currently languish in sixth and are out of Europe but do have an opportunity to win the FA Cup with United facing Championship side
Coventry City in the semi-finals.
United’s struggles in 2023/24 have led to Ten Hag coming under pressure, with new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS group looking to transform the club’s footballing operations.
But former Villa striker Bent does not think Emery would leave Villa Park to join the modern version of Man United and believes his old side could offer an incentive to keep hold of their manager.
“I almost feel like, with Unai Emery, I’m sure he wants another crack at a top job,” he said. “He had a crack at Arsenal, I think it came too soon for him after [Arsene] Wenger. I think if Villa upped his money, it just seems more stable.
“I know Manchester United in terms of the size of the club, arguably the biggest in the world, you’ve also got to look at the now.
“This is not the same Manchester United from 10 years ago, it’s not the same club.
“They’re completely different to what they were. I think he’d stay.”
Meanwhile, Villa right-back Matty Cash has been ruled out for up to three weeks due to injury, according to reports. The Poland international sustained the injury during the Euro 2024 play-off semi against Estonia last week.
After being introduced as a sub, Cash was replaced 10 minutes later, clutching his hamstring.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano has reported that Cash will be absent for the next few weeks. He may not return before the first leg of the
Lille clash at Villa Park.
Cash had started the five Premier League games before Villa’s trip to West Ham last time out.
He came off the bench at half-time and made a strong impact, helping Villa come back from a goal behind to secure a 1-1 draw at the London Stadium.
Aside from the injury suffered by Cash, Villa’s internationals impressed during the break.
Youri Tielemans scored twice in Belgium’s 2-2 draw with England on Tuesday night, while Morgan Rogers also bagged a brace for England Under-21s.