There was a time when Unai Emery would have been concerned by the prospect of facing Manchester United. But times have changed.
Emery will arrive at Old Trafford on Sunday brimming with confidence – and that confidence is built on firm foundations at Aston Villa. His side are on a 10-game unbeaten run, with their 1-0 win over Fulham on Tuesday their fifth in succession at home alongside a clean sheet.
The Spanish coach has completely transformed Villa’s fortunes since arriving in November to take over from Steven Gerrard and he has his team homing in on his speciality: the Europa League.
United know all about Emery, having faced his side twice already this season, as well as in a major final two years ago. Erik ten Hag got the better of Villa in one of those fixtures – a 4-2 win in the Carabao Cup third round – but Emery will still have the opportunity of doing the Premier League double over United thanks to a 3-1 victory in his first game in charge.
Before then, his previous win over United came on the big stage of the Europa League final in May 2021. After holding Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ’s side to a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes, Emery’s Villarreal triumphed on penalties to record the club’s first major trophy.
Having won just one of his four games in charge of Arsenal against United, it was a reversal of fortunes for Emery. His victory was taken as him proving a point against English opposition, but the man himself dismissed the idea.
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“I insist it is not a sports revenge at all,” he said. “I try to enjoy every moment, winning and losing. I try to create new circumstances, so everywhere I have been, even in England at Arsenal, I have learned a lot, met many people, other cultures and football. At the end of that story was professional frustration, but some other doors opened then.”
Doors appear to be continually opening for Emery in recent years, with his failure at Arsenal now a thing of the past. It is for this reason that the 51-year-old’s record against United appears to be mirroring his own ascendancy – at least in English football.
His overall record against United reads: played 11, won three, drawn three, lost five. Those pressure situations, with Arsenal, Sevilla and Villarreal have not always gone well. But now Villa are in a position to embrace the pressure and go toe-to-toe with them.
"Playing now for something like we are doing, and being a candidate for a Europa League position, is very exciting,” Emery said in mid-week. “If we are competing, like we are now doing, and being the candidate to be in the Europa positions, I think it is a very good moment to go there."
Emery has proven himself to be a very savvy tactician over Villa’s recent strong run. The team has focused on maintaining a solid shape out of possession, while steadfastly playing to its strengths by getting the ball forward to the in-form Ollie Watkins quickly.
The midfield three of John McGinn, Jacob Ramsey and Douglas Luiz rotate well and are very adept at flooding the box at the right time to get on the end of cutbacks. Emery is, at heart, a pragmatist and that is what will make him so dangerous to United.
Villa will come to Old Trafford armed with a clear game plan. And you wouldn’t bet against them leaving with all three points and continuing Emery’s pursuit of European football.
