December 21, (THEWILL) – Unai Emery has offered unwavering backing to fellow Spanish manager Pep Guardiola ahead of Aston Villa’s English Premier League clash with Manchester City at Villa Park on Saturday.
Despite City’s concerning run of form, which includes eight defeats in their previous 11 matches, Emery maintains that Guardiola remains the coach to beat in English football.
The defending EPL champions have experienced a significant downturn in results, managing just one victory during this period. Their position in the table has deteriorated, leaving them nine points behind Liverpool, who also hold a game-in advantage over City.
“He is the best,” stated Emery regarding Guardiola.
He added, “I am a little bit surprised [about Manchester City’s form], but it is football.” The Villa manager emphasised the significance of the upcoming fixture, noting: “It is a very tough match and an exciting match for us. We respect them a lot.”
City currently sit fifth in the table, two positions and two points ahead of Aston Villa.
The Birmingham side entered this contest following a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest, where late goals in the 87th minute and injury time ended their three-match winning streak across all competitions.
Emery, drawing from his extensive experience at Arsenal, Sevilla, and Paris Saint-Germain, acknowledged his team’s development while emphasising room for improvement.
“We are being consistent, but to be at the top level we need more in everything,” he stated, adding that his squad continues to learn from both victories and setbacks.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
