Tag: Unai

Aston Villa: Unai Emery’s impressive 2.0 reboot has supporters buoyant again
23 October 2026 Off

Aston Villa: Unai Emery’s impressive 2.0 reboot has supporters buoyant again

By Total Football News

When Aston Villa walked out to face Viking in the Champions League, a giant tifo emblazoned with the message ‘We’ve Conquered Before. We’re Prepared For More’ dropped down from Villa Park’s famous Holte End.

At the same time, Villa manager Unai Emery was striding along the touchline to a standing ovation as he took the acclaim from supporters.

Emery celebrates the fourth anniversary of his appointment from Villarreal when Villa

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Aston Villa: Unai Emery searching for answers after defeat by Nottingham Forest.
13 September 2026 Off

Aston Villa: Unai Emery searching for answers after defeat by Nottingham Forest.

By Total Football News

A late Igor Jesus winner meant Oliver Glasner is now unbeaten in his eight games against Emery and, after a first win as Forest boss, he will view this as one of the sweetest.

Liam Delap scored just 45 seconds after the restart and, while Alysson levelled for Villa with his first goal in English football, the visitors were deserved winners.

Jesus pounced ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka with two

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Villa 1-2 Nottingham Forest. Unai Emery’s side remain winless after Forest defeat
12 September 2026 Off

Villa 1-2 Nottingham Forest. Unai Emery’s side remain winless after Forest defeat

By Total Football News

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Aston Villa: Unai Emery pays emotional tribute to Ollie Watkins
28 August 2026 Off

Aston Villa: Unai Emery pays emotional tribute to Ollie Watkins

By Total Football News

Villa have agreed a deal for Jackson and are trying to ensure the Senegal striker is registered for Monday’s visit of Arsenal.

Watkins is the latest experienced player to leave Villa this summer and Emery urged supporters to back the club’s strategy despite the loss of several key figures in their successful 2025-26 season.

“We took decisions because it’s good for the club,” Emery said.

“Of course, we don’t

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Aston Villa season preview: Can Unai Emery work magic again?
23 July 2026 Off

Aston Villa season preview: Can Unai Emery work magic again?

By Total Football News

There was a sense at Villa Park last season they were getting into a party they were not invited to by qualifying for the Champions League.

Villa gatecrashed the top five for the second time in three seasons, finishing fourth to comfortably secure entry to club football’s elite competition for 2026-27.

Emery has achieved this after inheriting a squad that was 14th in the table, three points above the

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Unai Emery: Aston Villa go “from black and white to full colour” in three years
1 November 2025 Off

Unai Emery: Aston Villa go “from black and white to full colour” in three years

By Total Football News

On 6 November 2022 a packed house at Villa Park exploded with joy as Aston Villa beat Manchester United on home soil for the first time since 1995.

A dream debut for new head coach Unai Emery, less than a week after the work permit hurdles that delayed his appointment had finally been cleared.

There had been fleeting moments of joy in the past but, for many years, never anything

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Aston Villa: Villa head into a new era but Unai Emery’s position at Premier League club remains strong
25 September 2025 Off

Aston Villa: Villa head into a new era but Unai Emery’s position at Premier League club remains strong

By Total Football News

Monchi’s transfer record can be questioned but so can Villa’s policy over the last few years.

Since promotion in 2019 under Dean Smith, they have spent more than £700m.

Of course, Villa have banked in excess of £400m in sales in the same period but almost half of that is from the £100m deal which took Jack Grealish to Manchester City in 2021 and Jhon Duran’s £71m move to Al-Nassr

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Aston Villa: Unai Emery was right to call us lazy, says Ezri Konsa
24 September 2025 Off

Aston Villa: Unai Emery was right to call us lazy, says Ezri Konsa

By Total Football News

Asked if Emery had called his players lazy privately, Konsa added: “No. The boss is not a big speaker. Sometimes he keeps himself to himself.

“As players, we have been in the game a long time and we know what we need to do. It is down to us at the end of the day. We are on the pitch, not the manager. We have to figure it out for

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Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest: How Unai Emery has transformed Villa
5 April 2025 Off

Aston Villa 2-1 Nottingham Forest: How Unai Emery has transformed Villa

By Total Football News

Emery’s arrival at Villa Park in 2022 marked a new chapter for the club.

He brought with him six backroom staff, with many of the old guard departing, and then Monchi arrived as president of football operations in June 2023 – having previously worked with Emery at Sevilla, winning three Europa League titles together.

Emery has certainly been backed in the transfer market, spending about £295m on 23 signings over

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Aston Villa: Ollie Watkins tells Unai Emery he will reject Arsenal to stay
31 January 2025 Off

Aston Villa: Ollie Watkins tells Unai Emery he will reject Arsenal to stay

By Total Football News

Fellow striker Jhon Duran is expected to complete a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in a deal worth up to 85m euros (£71.09m). The Saudi transfer window closes on Friday.

Monchi, Villa’s president of football operations, admits the club will need to keep some of the money brought in to help comply with profit and sustainability rules.

He said: “It is an important operation for a player with

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