Unai Emery is still wary of the threat Manchester United pose despite the club enduring their worst start to a season in 61 years.
The Spanish boss continues to exceed expectations and receive plaudits for the work he’s done with Aston Villa since taking over from Steven Gerrard, who won just 13 of his 40 matches in charge of the Midlands outfit.
Emery took the reins at Villa Park a year ago last month and in that time, only Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool have won more points.
After sealing a seventh-placed finish and therefore earning a Europa Conference League spot in the 2022/2023 campaign, Emery has Villa sitting fifth-placed in the Premier League table this term and hot on the tails of those in the top four. Should they overturn Fulham this weekend, it’ll mark a 13th consecutive home league win.
A turbulent storm is underway in M16
Meanwhile, United’s form since last season has taken a tumultuous turnaround. On the back of ending a six-year trophy drought and securing Champions League football, the Red Devils have lost nine games in all competitions and sit eighth in the table, meaning pressure is continuing to mount on Erik ten Hag with every point dropped.
A drastic change and positive run of form is needed if United want to rub shoulders with Europe’s elite again this time next year, and Emery still believes that the club have it in them to climb up the table.
When reflecting on his own top-four hopes, he said (via Birmingham Mail): “Manchester United and Chelsea are more contenders than us to be in the top four, top five, top seven. We are one team trying to get our opportunity to be there.”
