There is a lot to admire about the job Unai Emery has done at Aston Villa so far. Beyond the wins and losses, although that is always going to be an important metric, the Spaniard has elevated the mindset and perception of Villa since his B6 arrival.
This factor should become evident when assessing how the 2024-2025 campaign ended up unfolding.
Certainly the buzz and excitement of going deep in the FA Cup and Champions League competitions is something that allowed the Villa faithful to feel increasingly optimistic about the club's position in Europe.
Depending on which site or service is being referenced, Villa is among the top dozen clubs in the world in terms of factors such as relevance and overall quality of play. The biggest single indicator that the standards have risen is the fact that many are overall happy with how the season went but still disappointed due to the end product lacking silverware and how Villa managed to drop out of Champions League after the final Matchday performance.
Despite being mostly pleased, there is still something of a bitter taste in the mouths of many from coming so close to potentially advancing against PSG to then having a complete off-day against Crystal Palace and Manchester United when Villa needed it most.
Even so, this speaks to the intensity and focused approach that stems from Emery at Bodymoor. The Villa boss is someone who will never truly be satisfied or content with progress. For him, making needed improvements and striving toward the next objective will always remain at the forefront of his mind.
Continuing to gain momentum at Aston Villa
Since taking over in November of 2022, Emery will now embark on his third full season with the club. There is a lot of promise and potential, even with the concerns of PSR taking a larger scope in conversations among supporters.
Emery will know, as well as anyone, though, how quickly things can change, for better or for worse. It is this drive and dedication to the game that makes him the best fit at Villa. A lot of aspects will hinder progress of the club that is otherwise not an issue for others. Still, with the Spanish gaffer around, Villa will continue to pose an immediate threat to the status of the so-called 'big six' members.