EMERY WARNS VILLA’S PRICEY FLOPS

Houllier back in 2010-11. They are so hard-up for trophies they rank sharing the Intertoto Cup in 2008 as success. Their last decent pot was the League Cup of 1996, then known as the Coca Cola Cup.

Brian Little was manager back then and is still a Villa Park regular as a consultant to the board.

He will be there today, hoping for Villa’s first home win against United since his team beat them 3-1 on a hot summer Saturday in 1995 – and when Alan Hansen famously said, ‘You win nothing with kids’.

Emery has to quickly figure why

Gerrard achieved nothing with all the millions available, and put his rescue plan into operation. Three from the

Villarreal team he left behind interest Emery – Nicolas Jackson, 21, a Senegalese attacking midfielder,and one out of two wingers – Spain’s Yeremy Pino, 20, and Nigerian

Samuel Chukwueze, 23.

Emery is big on research and detail and he will also want to have a look at Villa kids Tim Iroegbunam, 19, on loan at QPR, Jaden Philogene, 20, loaned to Cardiff, and Aaron Ramsey, 19, on a season’s loan at Norwich.

“Big difficulties motivate me,” added Emery, who had a blazing start at Arsenal as Arsene Wenger’s successor but was shot down by the

Gunners three years ago as soon as their results stalled.

He said: “I am more prepared to work in the Premier League now.

“The greatness of the club, Aston Villa, appeals to me.

“The greatness of a club who have won the Champions League.

“OK, it was in 1982, a long time ago, but it’s important.

“When this club is presented to you, the owners, ambition, it was a great challenge for me.

“I am a professional. Every challenge is difficult and the appeal here is to test myself.”