Unai Emery is showcasing just why Newcastle United's owners were keen on bringing him to St. James' Park last season. The Aston Villa boss has transformed his side from relegation candidates into European contenders - sounds familiar right?
The 51-year-old was viewed as the ideal successor for Steve Bruce following his departure last season, but the then Villareal boss turned down a move to St. James' Park. Eddie Howe came through the door and the rest is history, but the Spaniard deserves some praise for turning round a struggling Villa side.
Like Howe, Emery faced a degree of pressure when arriving at Villa Park, tasked with keeping them in the Premier League. However, at the time of writing they're up to sixth in the table having won six of their last seven games.
READ MORE: Saint-Maximin's message, Howe's full-time gesture and Toney left panicked in Newcastle win
Aston Villa will be out to prove their European credentials when they take on the Magpies next weekend, with Emery telling his players to thrive under the pressure.
Speaking to Birmingham Live, Emery said: "Pressure is there when you’re in the bottom and you have to win. Pressure was when I was here playing against Manchester United!
"I remember that moment and I was a little bit under pressure!! Not now, not now. But I like it and I grew up playing under pressure as a coach.
"I like this, playing against the best, being very, very determined because you are playing for something to win. I want to share with the players; it’s not pressure and it’s to be ambitious and to get to being competitive to being stronger and stronger."
Villa are nine points adrift of Newcastle and Manchester United in the Champions League places and six behind Spurs in fifth having played the same amount of games. Brighton and Liverpool have games in hand and can move back above Emery's outfit, but the 51-year-old isn't content having guided the Villains away from relegation.
"We are winning," he said following the win over Nottingham Forest. "We are adding a new target in our way. We started trying to escape from the bottom.
"We did it. We tried to be in the top 10 and now we are there but another target we have is to go to Europe. But to go to Europe we have to face other teams who are playing very well.
"For example, we are now sixth but it’s not real because Brighton have two matches less than us, Liverpool as well and we have to wait for their results and then of course we are going to think to be ambitious but realistic as well. Now, we can add a new target for the next match; it’s to win and we can be with the possibilities to get the European position."
READ NEXT
Newcastle's half-time masterstroke, £83m dream team unleashed and Ivan Toney taunt - 5 things
Brentford 1-2 Newcastle United player ratings: Isak, Pope and Trippier impress in huge win
Brentford 1-2 Newcastle United: Magpies show their Champions League mettle with brilliant recovery
Anthony Gordon situation explained by Eddie Howe after angry reaction to being subbed
Callum Wilson accepts ruthless Eddie Howe call that cost him elusive Newcastle United hat-trick
