Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been on the receiving end of high praise once more this season, with former Villan Lee Hendrie lauding the Spaniard after his side’s 5-0 dismantling of Sheffield United.
It was a day to remember for Villa, who returned to winning ways with a statement 5-0 win at Bramall Lane to deepen Sheffield United’s wounds in the 2023/24 campaign.
The Midlands side registered a devastating first half, scoring four goals by the point of the interval, to add their fifth just two minutes after the restart.
From defensive stability to a seemingly effortless display in attack, things are looking particularly strong for Unai Emery’s squad, who claimed fourth spot to remind those around them of their rise.
The Spaniard – who earns around £125k-a-week – has been praised multiple times since arriving at Villa Park back in October 2022, with the stream of positivity not showing any signs of running dry just yet.
Lee Hendrie praises Unai Emery’s work at Aston Villa
Speaking to Sky Sports after Villa’s victory in South Yorkshire, pundit and former Villan, Lee Hendrie, waxed lyrical over the manager’s project in the Midlands.
“He’s brought the best out of this squad. It wasn’t so long ago that he was taking over from Steven Gerrard, which is a similar sort of squad.
“I just think the identity and the way they play that high line, it’s very brave and he’s got a really good attacking force in that forward line.”
At the point of Emery’s take over from Steven Gerrard, the club were sat close to the relegation zone, with the squad lacking inspiration and creativity, a contrast to how bright things are currently.
The sky’s the limit for Unai Emery and the Aston Villa squad
The turnaround that was evident during the manager’s debut season in the Midlands has not been a fluke, as genuine progression can be traced through their start to the 2023/24 campaign.
Hendrie backed his former club to take further steps in the near future, congratulating Emery for making the club “believe again” after a period of assumed mediocrity.
“You feel like things are really sort of setting a platform for Villa to go and kick on for next season, that’s how I feel, finishing in the top five, or top four would be brilliant, because again they progress, but I just think that he’s done a brilliant job, he’s made the club believe again.”
Having progressed in the Europa Conference League and the FA Cup, the squad and manager have displayed their ability to flex their depth to little disadvantage, suggesting that the best could be yet to come for the Villans and Emery.
