UNAI ONE WINNER
THE chances are Pep Guardiola will win the Premier League title again this afternoon.
And considering it will be a historic fourth triumph on the spin for Manchester City, the chances are Guardiola (right, top) will also win ‘Manager of the Year’ too.
Which is difficult to argue against, considering not even the great Sir Alex Ferguson managed such a feat.
But let’s have a go.
When it comes to dishing out the individual managerial gong come the end of the season, it takes someone or something special to outdo Guardiola.
But despite Guardiola’s continued success and domestic dominance, which could see him win a Double to follow on from last season’s Treble, there remains a more worthy winner of boss of the year.
Take a bow Unai Emery.
Not to mention whoever at Aston Villa appointed him as Steven Gerrard’s successor back in 2022.
Because Emery has led Villa into the Champions League for the first time in history, and giving him the job now looks like one of the shrewdest moves of a footballing generation.
Instead of Tottenham, Newcastle, Manchester United or Chelsea clinching that fourth spot behind the big three title challengers, it’s Villa.
And it’s all down to the guile, experience and tactical nous of someone once laughed out of English football.
But this is where the genius of Villa bosses comes in.
Not only did Emery come cheap, with Villa having to pay Villarreal just £5.2million compensation, he also arrived in the Midlands with a chip on his shoulder and burning desire in his heart to prove that he could cut it in the Premier League.
Emery lasted just 18 months in charge of Arsenal, before being sacked in
2019 following a run of seven games without a win. He was a public figure of fun, with some people mocking him for his vague grasp of the English language.
But who’s laughing now? Arsenal look like missing out on the title, which means they have achieved precisely the same as what Villa have this season. A seat at the top table of European club football.
Okay, so Guardiola is poised to win more trophies, but he’s close to doing so with a finely tuned and very expensive team. Sean Dyche has also done a remarkable job at Everton, keeping them up despite a points deduction, while Rob Edwards (left) deserves special mention for taking ‘little Luton’s’ survival fight down, effectively, to the penultimate game of the season.
But Emery’s achievement
Villa is astonishing – and leaves him head and shoulders above the rest.
Villa were a shambles by the time Gerrard was sacked.
But under the guidance of Emery, who won the Europa League three times on the spin with Sevilla, Villa have become well-drilled, consistent and exciting to watch.
To put Emery’s achievements into perspective, the last time Villa competed in Europe’s elite competition (1983), Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister, Manchester United hadn’t even appointed Sir Alex Ferguson and the average house price in the UK was £23,000.
It felt fitting Emery was able to celebrate Villa’s fourth-placed finish during the club’s awards night.
The champagne flowed and Emery rocked back in his chair and threw both fists in the air as City’s win at Tottenham meant Villa couldn’t be caught.
Suited and booted, Emery looked like what he is – a guy with all the gear and ideas.