Unai Emery takes FIRST training session as manager ahead of Aston Villa clash with Man United
Unai Emery takes his FIRST training session as Aston Villa manager ahead of his new side’s home clash with Man United on Sunday, after being forced to wait for a work permit
- Unai Emery was pictured undergoing his first training session as Aston Villa manager
- Emery officially started the job on Tuesday due to work permit formalities
- The Spaniard took over from Steven Gerrard who was sacked by Villa last month
- His first game as boss will be against Manchester United at Villa Park on Sunday
Unai Emery took his first training session as Aston Villa manager on Wednesday morning ahead of the club’s weekend clash with Manchester United at Villa Park.
The Spaniard, who left Villarreal to join the West Midlands club following the departure of Steven Gerrard last month, was only able to take over on November 1 due to work permit formalities.
Emery and his coaching staff held a training session at Bodymoor Heath on Wednesday, eager to begin preparations ahead of Sunday’s home clash against the Red Devils.
Unai Emery was pictured taking his first training session at Aston Villa on Wednesday morning
The 50-year-old manager only took charge of the Villa on Tuesday due to work permit formalities
Although most of the training appeared to involve Emery addressing his Aston Villa players from the touchline, the 50-year-old also got involved in his own ball game during the session, pictured passing the ball with his left foot as striker Ollie Watkins watched intently.
Aston Villa, who suffered a miserable 4-0 defeat to top-flighters Newcastle on Saturday, have sacked former boss Gerrard after a run of disappointing Premier League results.
His reign came to an end shortly after Aston Villa were beaten 3-0 by Premier League newcomers Fulham on October 20.
Emery – pictured alongside Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins – trained at Bodymoor Heath
Ex-Villarreal manager succeeds Steven Gerrard who was sacked last month
Emery was appointed just four days after Gerrard left but was unable to take over immediately, handing Aaron Danks the caretaker role.
The former Arsenal manager enjoyed a successful spell at Villarreal after returning to La Liga in 2020, leading the Spanish side to Europa League glory in 2021 and Champions League semi-finals the following year .
After hosting Manchester United in the Premier League at the weekend, Aston Villa travel to Old Trafford to face Erik ten Hag’s side again in the third round of the EFL Cup next Thursday.
Tyrone Mings admitted Aston Villa’s decision to appoint the Spanish boss was ‘exciting’
Gerrard was sacked by Aston Villa after the club’s miserable 3-0 loss to Fulham last month
Centre-back Tyrone Mings, who was stripped of his captaincy and then sacked by Gerrard for the first game of the season, admitted Emery’s appointment was “exciting”.
Former Arsenal and Villarreal manager inherits 16th Premier League side
He told The Athletic last week: “It’s annoying because it’s not as simple as saying everything is going to be amazing now that there’s a new manager.
“You also have to prove yourself again. But it’s exciting because of what he’s done with the Villarreal players and the big results he’s gotten.
“To me, that’s a sign of a manager… that he can really get the most motivation, emotion, energy and enthusiasm out of the players he works with.”
“He has to do something really good from Monday to Friday so that the players really want to play for him and believe in what he’s doing, and every 90 minutes go really good for him.”
Emery’s first games are back-to-back clashes with Manchester United before a trip to Brighton
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