Aston Villa have made it clear Unai Emery is planning to stay beyond his current contract, the Mirror report, after a meeting between the manager and the men running the club on Wednesday. Manchester United have been linked with the Spaniard as a replacement for Michael Carrick, but Villa say the talks went well.
Chairman Nassef Sawiris sat down with Emery, president of football operations Roberto Olabe and director of football operations Damian Vidagany. Villa then put out an unusually open statement, calling it “an important working meeting” to plan the club’s future and lay the foundations for a long-term sporting project. The club also confirmed “positive discussions” had taken place.
The timing is hard to ignore. Emery will be at Old Trafford this weekend when United host Villa, and his side arrive in need of a result before the November international break. They lost 3-0 to Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday and drew with Fulham last Saturday.
The 55-year-old has spent four years at Villa Park and has earned the right to be talked about for bigger jobs. Villa clearly want to make sure he isn’t talked into one.
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Fair play to Villa for going public in the week they visit Old Trafford. It kills the noise before it gets going. Emery’s built something there over four years, so why would he walk away from a club backing him to take on the United job? Two poor results don’t change that. If I’m United I’d stop daydreaming about Emery and look elsewhere.