Jamie Carragher is ‘surprised’ Manchester United didn’t replace Erik ten Hag with Unai Emery (Picture: Getty Images)
Jamie Carragher says it’s ‘one of the surprises of the summer’ that Manchester United and Chelsea didn’t try to hire Aston Villa manager Unai Emery.
The Spaniard led Villa to a remarkable fourth-place Premier League finish with 68 points last season to secure Champions League football.
When Emery took over from Steven Gerrard in October 2022, the Birmingham-based side were 16th in the table and staring down the barrel.
But Emery revived the club to finish seventh and qualify for the Europa Conference League before going on to bring elite European football back to Villa Park for the first time since 1982 a year later.
The 52-year-old has previously won four UEFA Europa League titles – three with Sevilla and one with Villarreal – and multiple trophies in France with PSG including Ligue 1.
He endured a difficult spell in his time as Arsenal manager but Liverpool legend Carragher says it’s his success both with Villa and previous clubs that make him ‘the Premier League’s second most accomplished coach behind Pep Guardiola’.
‘Because of Emery, Villa have become a notable scalp,’ Carragher said in his column for The Telegraph ahead of Villa’s home game against Emery’s former club on Saturday.
Unai Emery led Aston Villa to their first Champions League – or equivalent competition – qualification since 1982 (Picture: Getty Images)
‘The Spaniard’s unhappy spell at Arsenal should be a distant memory. Fortunately for Villa, it would appear it isn’t for rival Premier League and European clubs.
‘One of the surprises of the summer is how few of the elite teams seeking a new coach made a pitch for Emery.
‘He would have been capable of taking over at Liverpool, Barcelona, Bayern Munich or Chelsea, while Manchester United must have considered his qualities during that period when they were contemplating whether to keep faith with Erik ten Hag.
‘Based on his experience and CV, Emery is second only to Guardiola as the most accomplished and successful coach currently working in the Premier League.’
Carragher thinks United ‘must have considered’ Emery’s qualities when they were ‘contemplating whether to keep faith with Erik ten Hag’ (Picture: Getty Images)
Emery penned a new five-year deal with Villa at the end of last season, following on from the extension to his contract back in April to fend off any rivals from poaching him.
His job title also changed from head coach to manager, suggesting he’s now playing an even more pivotal role at the club than before.
However, Carragher was left shocked that no other clubs were knocking on Emery’s door with a view to luring him away from Villa.
‘By signing a new contract, he sent a message that he is working in an environment where he and sporting director Monchi believe they can build a side to match their vision,’ Carragher added.
Carragher says only Pep Guardiola has achieved more than Emery out of all the managers in the Premier League (Picture: Getty Images)
‘But it still surprised me that there was not a stronger push for his services from those head-hunting because it will be hard for Villa to replicate what they did last year given the extra demands of Champions League football. Their squad does not have the necessary depth.
‘Because of Emery, Arsenal versus Villa feels like a heavyweight Premier League battle where Arteta’s side dare not slip-up if they are to prove they can take the fight to City again.’
Aston Villa take on Arsenal at 5.15pm on Saturday.
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