Tuesday seems to have been quite a confusing day for Villarreal.
The club will have already been aware of rumours about Newcastle United interest in their manager, and Unai Emery was even asked about it during a Monday press conference. However, Tuesday saw the story pushed further along, with claims the Premier League club could appoint the Spaniard this week.
Sources close to Villarreal initially ignored it all, and then big Spanish newspapers such as Marca and AS contacted the club for comment. The resulting stance was quickly pushed around the country’s media, and Villarreal wanted everyone to know they’d heard absolutely nothing from Newcastle United, or from anyone connected to Emery.
First up is Villarreal president Fernando Roig, who has spoken to TMW.
The Italian website quote him as saying: “Emery is a great professional, I am convinced that at the moment he is only thinking about tonight’s game with Young Boys. I don’t know anything about these rumours about Newcastle, Unai has a contract with us and contracts they are made to be respected.
“I hope he finishes his contract with Villarreal and thinks of nothing else, today and Sunday we have two complicated and important matches. I trust in Emery’s professionalism, I have no doubts about him.”
That would clearly suggest that Roig isn’t keen on the manager going, and he’ll have to force his way out of Villarreal.
