Unai Emery has revealed that the ‘greatness’ of Aston Villa and the opportunity to build something at the club are why he elected to join them from Villarreal.
Emery was announced as Steven Gerrard’s replacement last month after the Gerrard was sacked following a disappointing start to the season.
The decision to move to Villa Park was questioned by some, who wondered why the Spanish boss would leave Villarreal, who he had guided to a Europa League title and the semi-finals of the Champions League, for a side in the bottom half of the Premier League.
It also seemed a strange choice given his previous experience of working in England with Arsenal, a point in his career that was far from successful.
He’s now been questioned about the choice by AS and revealed there were several factors that swayed his thinking.
“Because of the greatness of this club. This club has a Champions League and not every club can’t say that” he told them.
“It is true that the club won it in 1982, far away, but it says what is behind it. So, when you are presented with this club, the credentials it offers and the ambition shown to me by its leaders, it is a challenge, a big challenge.
“I’ve always wanted to take on or been attracted to challenges where I’m motivated by greater difficulties and Aston Villa gave me that chance.
“But what does the Premier League give me? A construction project, it is true that without having Europe, with years where it has been somewhat distant from having titles or participating in Europe regularly.
“But the construction project logically wants to be done with the idea of winning a title, of being in Europe. It’s a big challenge but with that idea as a starting point. It is ambitious, difficult and I assume it from that perspective.”
In terms of construction, it will be interesting to see what Emery and Aston Villa the January transfer window once opens.
The club were not shy in backing Gerrard throughout the summer, completing expensive deals to sign the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Boubacar Kamara and Diego Carlos.
They joined a squad that had already been expensively assembled before that, with Villa’s ownership backing their managers considerably.
It’s likely Emery has been promised the same level of support, but he insists he will be focused on the players he has for the time being.
“We have a month and a half before the transfer window,” he added.
“For now, we are focusing on the players we already have, trying to improve their individual performance, give them confidence to improve.
“And then I think we will improve with the transfer market, but first we have to believe in our players.”
