Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has dropped a huge tease as to who will flank Unai Emery in the Aston Villa dugout.
The Villans announced on Monday evening the appointment of the Spanish coach.
Emery, who managed Arsenal between 2018 and 2019, will take charge at Villa Park on November 1st when work permit formalities are completed – and he brings with him a winning pedigree, particularly in Europe.
Four times the 50-year-old has won the Europa League, but it appears that he won’t be the only member of the coaching staff to have experienced glory on the continent.
Speaking on the Claret and Blue podcast, Balague said:
“He wouldn’t come with one or two [backroom staff], I would imagine it would be three, four, five, but it’s pure guessing.
“I know who the assistant coach is going to be but I cannot tell you and it’s also very exciting.
“Let’s say he’s a European Cup winner and is another who has lived in the elite and Unai thought that he was going to be somebody that will help him because also not only understands Unai but understands the Premier League, so more on that soon.”
TIF Thoughts on Balague’s comments…
Will Emery be a success at Villa?
Yes!
No!
The reliable journalist will certainly have left Villa fans wanting more with his cryptic revelation.
Of course, Steven Gerrard lifted the Champions League in 2005 with Liverpool but it was clear he failed to get his message across to the squad.
However, this ‘exciting’ addition will certainly raise eyebrows and cause speculation to run rampant around the West Midlands for the coming days.
The term European Cup may suggest that it is someone who won the trophy prior to the reformatted competition which began in 1992/93, but it remains to be seen who Emery will bring with him to the club – although it certainly is encouraging nonetheless and a sign of real ambition from the owners.