Unai Emery led Aston Villa to the Champions League quarter finals last season, but PSR restrictions, poor form and Monchi’s exit have raised speculation about his future
From the moment Aston Villa missed out on the Champions League, it was obvious this season was going to be tough.
And yet few imagined it would be this brutal. They now sit in the bottom three, have managed just one goal in their opening five games and now Emery is losing a key ally in president of football operations Monchi.
Villa have been on a remarkable upward trajectory since Emery took charge nearly three years ago. Emery led them to safety in his first season, back into Europe and then into the Champions League. There are few managers to have made such a dramatic impact as Emery has done in the space of three years to reawaken a club the size of Aston Villa.
And yet Villa have had to overcome huge obstacles with Monchi’s departure the latest blow for Emery whose passion is unwavering but even his patience is surely being tested.
Villa have had to sell the family silver to balance the books and it is difficult to fathom and justify why a club of this size has to sell top players to fall into line.
READ MORE: What impact Monchi’s exit has on Unai Emery at Aston VillaREAD MORE: Aston Villa chief Monchi set to LEAVE club in major development
The Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules were probably not introduced to check clubs like Aston Villa. You could argue they were brought in to stop financial disasters like at Portsmouth back in the day. Or to stop mega wealthy states buying up football.
They were probably not even brought in for Everton or Nottingham Forest who have both fallen foul. Mind you, Everton were warned before they got hit.
Make no mistake, Villa have spent a lot of money to bring back the glory days. And they also brought in Monchi because of his relationship with Emery but also because of his reputation as a brilliant and shrewd transfer negotiator.
Monchi has had mixed success but is an Emery ally and that has to be a concern for Villa. Even looking at Emery’s recent jobs, one of which was at Villarreal – where he worked wonders – it came to an end because the club effectively could not match his ambition.
Villa has been brilliant for Emery. And Emery has been brilliant for Villa. What a story and the European nights at Villa Park have been magnificent.
But is it really fair to have spending rules which stop Villa fans from dreaming? Dare I mention you could say the same about Newcastle. Those poor Saudis. It’s by no means a simple argument. And there is no easy solution.
But one result – and that is what it was with Villa losing very controversially at Manchester United on the final day of last season which allowed Newcastle to sneak into the Champions League places – should not define a whole club’s future. And that is what it feels like.
Ezri Konsa talked about PSR “killing” the club in the transfer window – and that is exactly what happened. Villa had to listen to offers, they had to wheel and deal and bring loans and creative signings while selling players like Jacob Ramsey.
Last January, they had to sell one of their two strikers – Ollie Watkins or Jhon Duran – to fall into line and meet spending rules. They were still in the Champions League, lost narrowly to eventual winners Paris Saint Germain and were a revelation. Now look at them.
This is Aston Villa. A huge club who have become a great story again under Emery but now he has to become accountant as much as football manager. It does not seem right. Emery is the best thing to happen to Villa for years. You can see how frustrated and angry he looks.
This is a serious worry. And it feels like Emery and Villa are almost being punished for being ambitious and successful.
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