Unai Emery ‘Wouldn’t Leave Aston Villa’ to Replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United
Former Manchester United striker Darren Bent has said that Unai Emery wouldn’t leave Aston Villa to replace Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford. Despite a positive debut season in charge of United, Ten Hag is under significant pressure at Old Trafford following a slow start to the 2023-24 campaign.
The Red Devils are eighth in the Premier League after their opening 10 games, losing half their top-flight fixtures, with Ten Hag’s side already eight points behind the top four. Villa, meanwhile, are flying under former Arsenal manager Emery and are fifth in the league, just four points behind leaders Tottenham.
Unai Emery ‘Wouldn’t Leave Aston Villa’
Quizzed if Emery could be tempted to swap Villa Park for Old Trafford, Bent told talkSPORT: ‘He wouldn’t leave Aston Villa now. He wouldn’t. Not with that mess that’s going on [at Man Utd]. He’s not leaving. No chance. At the minute, he’s at a stable football club who are going in the right direction.
‘I don’t know what’s going on at Man Utd. Listen, Man Utd are a bigger club, I have no doubts about that, but right now Aston Villa are in a more stable position and look better than Man Utd. Do you think Eddie Howe would leave Newcastle to go to Man Utd? Absolutely not.’
Erik ten Hag Under Pressure
Meanwhile, United’s players have privately questioned Ten Hag’s tactical decisions in the wake of their 3-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, according to reports. There are also concerns in the United dressing room that Ten Hag’s intense training sessions are the cause of some of the injuries that have riddled the squad this season.
Aston Villa Flying Under Unai Emery
Under Unai Emery, Aston Villa have made a strong start to the 2023-24 campaign and are fifth in the Premier League, just four points behind leaders Tottenham. The Midlands club have been buoyed by some impressive performances from their star players, including Jack Grealish and Ollie Watkins, who have both been in fine form this season.
Emery has also been praised for his tactical acumen and his ability to get the best out of his players. The former Arsenal boss has been able to instill a sense of confidence and belief within his squad, which has seen them rise up the table and challenge for a place in the top four.
Conclusion
It is clear that Unai Emery is not interested in leaving Aston Villa for Manchester United at this moment in time. The Midlands club are in a much more stable position than their rivals and are currently challenging for a place in the top four of the Premier League. With Emery at the helm, it looks like Aston Villa could be set for an exciting season ahead.