Aston Villa coach Unai Emery says that the Premier League is the most competitive league In the world.
The Premier League and Spanish top flight league Laliga are traditionally seen as the two strongest leagues in Europe and they have endured a fierce rivalry over the years.
Emery has coached various clubs across European leagues like Valencia, Villarreal, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal.
In an interview with Relevo, Umery assessed the strength of the leagues.
“On a competitive level, the Premier League is the strongest league. When you’re here you feel it,” Emery said.
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“There is a certain selection of the best in the Premier League. There are clubs like Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus or AC Milan that are still capable of having a lot of strength in their leagues, but here there are clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea that are able to do that too, and the mid table teams also have a high capacity to be able to sign the best players from other leagues. So twenty very competitive teams are made.
“Well I have grown, I have enjoyed, I have competed in the Spanish League with three great clubs Valencia, Sevilla and Villarreal, always behind the strength of Real Madrid and Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid.
” And I have an important recognition towards Europe thanks to the opportunity I have had to train in them. And England means, once again breaking certain barriers, which I already did at the time when I had to go to Moscow, my first trip to Europe, to another league, to another language.
” When I went to PSG and Arsenal I had that challenge again. Now I am more aware, more responsible with greater strength in myself and around me that I have created in order to be able to compete and be able to overcome this adversity. And I am very much in that process.”
Emery joined Aston Villa from Laliga club last October and has acquired 59 points in the Premier League since he took over. Only Manchester City have acquired more points (74) in that period.
Emery has won the UEFA Europa League four times. Three times with Sevilla (2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16) and once with Villarreal (2020/21).
He was the first runner-up in the Europa League with Arsenal in the 2020/21 season.
The 51 year old was the European coach of the season in 2020/21 and he emerged as the Premier League coach of the month in April 2023.
Laliga teams have won the Champions League 19 times (Real Madrid 14 , Barcelona 5), while the Premier League teams have won the trophy 15 times (Liverpool 6, Manchester United 3, Chelsea 2, Nottingham Forest 2, Aston Villa 1, Manchester City 1).
1 Comment
Emery has done a great job at Villa. The way they outclassed West Ham yesterday illustrates the impact a good manager can have on a team. Villa have always had good players, they just needed a good manager to bring out the best in them.
Unlike some pipo that hire cheap and expect to win Afcon and world cup, the Villa board obviously had a vision, and were ready to spend the money needed to actualize that vision.