Unai Emery says that his decision to quit Villarreal for Aston Villa is both a “personal and professional decision”.
The Spaniard was announced as the new man to take the reins in the Midlands on Monday evening. Villa conducting a swift deal with the La Liga side to pay his release clause; and the move brings Emery back to English shores following his ill-fated spell at Arsenal.
It also took some aback with the Spaniard enjoying a terrific spell with former club Villarreal having lifted the Europa League - the fourth time he has done that in his career - while they are currently once again challenging for the European positions.
However, speaking during his farewell press conference with the Spanish club on Tuesday, Emery explained that the professional and personal draw of taking the reins at Aston Villa was enough to convince him to make the switch.
He said: "Here [Villarreal] I have felt something of heart again, but the profession is within me. This one, I have considered that I had to take it, as a sports challenge, as a different project.
"It is a personal and professional decision. I left home at the age of 24 and opened myself up to the professional world of football with all the consequences."
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He continued: "When you make a professional decision you have to look beyond the position in the table. I leave a team in Europe, although I took a team in Europe. I won the Europa League because I took a job very well done and thanks to the fact that they had left the team in Europe.
"Each League, each club, each context is different. It's not that it's better, it's different. I leave a European project, a living project in the League for the stated objectives.”
Emery will certainly be aiming to have an immediate impact at Villa Park, with the side having been hit with inconsistency this term. Steven Gerrard could only lead to the team to two Premier League wins before he was dismissed in the aftermath of the reverse at the hands of Fulham.
There was an immediate uplift following the departure of the former Liverpool midfielder with Villa dismissing Brentford 4-0 at the weekend.
There will be a wait for Emery until he can officially take over his new side. Work permit issues mean that he will officially take the reins on November 1, meaning he will miss this weekend’s clash with Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
His first official game at the helm will come against Manchester United in just under a fortnight’s time.
