Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has dismissed links with the Bayern Munich job after speculation emerged this past week.
Villa appointed the 52-year-old in October 2022, and it has been both a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable journey since as he’s taken us from facing the threat of relegation to competing in Europe and for a top-four finish in the Premier League in the space of 18 months.
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Given the structure put in place around him, the trust from ownership and the foundations being laid to build something special at Villa in the years to come if we continue on this similar path and trajectory, there is a sense and real confidence about having Emery at the helm for the foreseeable future.
Nevertheless, his success and his coaching history will naturally put him in contention for top jobs around the world, and with Bayern in the market for a new coach ahead of next season, the Bavarian giants have emerged as a potential threat.
The link emanated from comments made by Lothar Matthaus last week, who singled out Emery as a top candidate for the job this summer, as per Sky Sport Germany.
With Thomas Tuchel set to step down at the end of the season, and while other potential managerial targets are seemingly set to go elsewhere, the suggestion of Emery being an ideal option was put forward by the Bayern and Germany legend.
“I would get Unai Emery from Aston Villa. He’s doing a great job there. He has a lot of experience – including internationally – and he has titles to his name with Sevilla, for example,” Matthäus noted, as per the link above. “He speaks perfect English. He can then learn German, but the players can all speak English anyway, so I don’t see any language barrier. Emery would also be someone who would bring in a new wind, he would be a new face in the Bundesliga and that would fit well with Bayern Munich.”
In fairness to Matthaus, it’s hard to disagree with what he’s said and he’s entitled to his opinion. Further, it’s quite the compliment for Emery that his work with us and at his previous clubs has attracted the potential interest of a European giant like Bayern.
That said, the most important thing in this situation is the mindset of Emery and what he wants for his future, and in a short but no-nonsense response, the Spaniard insisted that his full focus is on Villa, and he isn’t thinking about any speculation or rumours that are linking him with a move elsewhere.
“I am focused here, 100 per cent,” he told the media at his post-Bournemouth press conference.
For the reasons detailed above, it surely makes little sense for the Spaniard to walk away from us in the near future. He’s building a squad capable of challenging at the top of the Premier League, and if we can finish the job and qualify for the Champions League next season, it would be huge for our aspirations going forward and it will match his ambitions to ensure he is happy with the progression and project.
Time will tell if the situation changes for any reason, but it’s great to hear Emery dismiss the suggestion when directly asked about it, and he’ll hope to finish the current campaign off in the best way possible as Villa go from strength to strength.
