Unai Emery wins fifth Europa League: Time to recognize the Aston Villa manager as one of the best in the business | Football news

After winning a fifth Europa League title, it’s time to call Unai Emery what he is: an elite manager.

Emery has never been loud. Or to build his ego. His genius resides in the details.

And now, after winning a fifth Europa League title it is time to put him where he belongs: among the managers of modern football.

Maybe even more than most of them.

Because when Pep Guardiola leaves Manchester City, there is a strong argument that the best manager in the Premier League will stand on the pitch at Villa Park.

Few managers in history have done that more often than Emery. Only Carlo Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho and Giovanni Trapattoni have won five European championships. You are in respectable company.

The temptation has always been to frame his career through the prism of his failures at Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal.

Yet as you delve deeper into Emery’s body of work, it is structured around projects. Their manager. For clubs that wish to disrupt the established order.

That is why Sevilla became the kings of the Europa League under him. Why Villarreal won it all. Why Aston Villa – struggling and sleeping towards the Championship – now look like a real European capital.

Villa’s 3-0 win over Freiburg carried the aura of a Champions League heavyweight.

The defining quality of elite coaching is not just about developing players. Many can do that. Real stars change the roof of every football club. Emery has done that many times across Europe.

And after Freiburg were swept aside in such emphatic fashion, perhaps the football world should finally accept what many have followed Emery for years.

Emery is not just a professional. He is one of the best managers of his generation.

Emery: We will not stop

“My dream when I started [at Villa] it was playing in Europe and playing in the cups – this is a first. “We played in two semi-finals and we were close,” said Emery.

“Those experiences are very important for us to improve. The team has been missing the European Cups, the cup.

“So to achieve this is very exciting for us, but we will not give up.”

Emery was also delighted with Villa’s ‘serious’ approach to the competition. Speaking to TNT Sports he said:

“Europe has given us a lot, and a lot for me. And I am always very grateful for Europe. In all the competitions: Conference League, Champions League, Europa League … but especially the Europa League.

“We played in a very serious way this year. So, we are very focused. And the players showed their desire. I was telling them, ‘we need desire in this tournament and show on the pitch that you are the main character’. And they did it.

“Some have already won titles, others are the first title.

“This final is proof of how we continue.

“It is very important to them [the players] and it’s the same with the fans because the fans have been with us all season long, they’ve made a big effort to be with us, they’ve transferred their energy to us.

“When we improve, when we play against Europe, we play in the final, we win trophies, when we are in the Champions League, I think the name grows.”

McGinn: Proudest moment of my career

“With this manager in charge, anything is possible,” said Villa captain John McGinn.

“Tonight was everything we built, coming together, and the pride I felt at 3-0 with 10 minutes to go, I think we are European champions is something I can’t describe.

“The proudest moment of my career so far.”