Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has said Ruben Amorim is a worthy replacement for Erik ten Hag but offered solidarity to the Dutchman following his sacking as Manchester United manager on Monday.
United announced on Friday that 39-year-old Sporting boss Amorim will join them on November 11 with a contract until June 2027.
“When I arrived here, I said to the players I was sad because one coach’s sacking is not good for us and for me as a coach,” said Emery, who replaced Steven Gerrard when Villa paid Spanish club Villarreal £5.2 million for his services in October 2022.
“It’s the same now at Manchester United with the sacking of Ten Hag. It’s not good news but football is like that and you have to accept that as a coach.
“[Amorim] has been doing very good work in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon. If Manchester United decided to appoint him, it’s because he deserves it.”
The Boss on team news for Spurs away: “We had only one injured player and it’s Ross Barkley. He has a small injury, but he’s not going to be available for the next two weeks.” pic.twitter.com/pZ2FJ3AUX7
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 1, 2024
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Tottenham vs Aston Villa
Emery has transformed Villa from strugglers to a major force in the Premier League since taking charge, reaching the Conference League at the end of his first season and the Champions League – for the first time in the club’s history – in his second.
The Villans visit a team with designs on rivalling them near the top of the table, Tottenham, in the Premier League on Sunday (2pm GMT).
The Spaniard believes England forward Dominic Solanke has given Spurs “a lot more ways to attack” since arriving for an initial £55 million from Bournemouth in August.
“The style they have is so, so strong,” said Emery, adding that he considers Tottenham favourites to win and finish above Villa in the table. “They have, individually, very good players.”
Unai on preparing for Sunday’s game: “Every match we are playing, we are trying to identify our corrections, our mistakes, our process and we are analysing how we are now and how are they, with the players they have.” pic.twitter.com/09OxcJT3Vg
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 1, 2024
Villa target Premier League ‘contenders’
“It is a very motivating match,” added Emery. “Very exciting match for our supporters, for us, for me as a coach, the players and the club.
“We are increasing our level and trying to be contenders with those teams like Tottenham, or [Manchester] City, or Chelsea or Newcastle, to compete with them.”
Tottenham lost 1-0 at Crystal Palace on Sunday and are five points behind fourth-placed Villa, whose 1-1 draw at home to Bournemouth extended their unbeaten league run to seven matches.
