Aston Villa return to action in the Europa Conference League this evening, as the Villans prepare to welcome LOSC Lille to Villa Park, and manager Paulo Fonseca has had a lot to say about Unai Emery.
The scene is set for Villa Park to host a European blockbuster this evening, as LOSC Lille arrive in Birmingham for the first leg of the Europa Conference League quarter-final.
Aston Villa will be hoping to put their recent league form behind them as the fourth-place Ligue 1 side come to town, with the opportunity there to take a strong result to France ahead of the decisive second leg.
Unai Emery has an exemplary record in Europe in his managerial career, having collected four Europa League titles as a coach, making tonight’s fixture even more of a focal point for the boss.
The Spaniard has done an impeccable job since arriving at Villa in October 2022, seeing him earn a host of praise from Lille boss Paulo Fonseca ahead of tonight’s duel.
Paulo Fonseca thinks Unai Emery has made Aston Villa ‘magnificent’
Speaking to the media in his pre-match press conference, the Portuguese coach spoke highly of the Villa manager, dubbing his work as “magnificent”.
As relayed by journalist John Townley, Fonseca said:
“Having a coach like Unai Emery is important, but the organisation of the team is also magnificent.”
“Defensively, Villa have one of the best structures I have seen this season. After that, they have so much individual quality.”
The Lille manager’s praise for Emery didn’t stop there, as he went on to laud the Spaniard as “one of the best” in the world, paying homage to his managerial career so far, via BirminghamLive.
“For me, Unai is one of the best coaches in the world. He has had an amazing career. What he is doing at Villa is amazing. His team plays very well. He is a coach who I love a lot and he is one of the best coaches in the world, without a doubt.”
Paulo Fonseca comments on Aston Villa are surprising for one reason
For all of the strengths Villa have shown this season, one frailty has been the defence, the element that Fonseca praised Emery so heavily for.
In the Premier League, Villa have conceded 49 goals, letting in more than relegation-threatened Everton, as well as having a poor few weeks of form at the back.
Going into the fixture, Emery’s side have conceded 12 goals in their previous five Premier League matches, recording just one win in that time.
While Villa’s quality going forward is undeniable, the boss will certainly want to improve his side’s organisation at the back, contrary to Fonseca’s beliefs, with his side conceding almost half of the number of goals Villa have in Ligue 1 (25).
It’s set to be an absolute thriller at Villa Park, with both sides arriving having enjoyed successful seasons so far with a host of quality to be on show.
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