Aston Villa are closing on Champions League football next season, and one former player has put it down to the impact of manager Unai Emery.
Since taking over from Steven Gerrard last season, the Spaniard has taken Villa from Premier League strugglers to the top four and their first European semi-final in forty years.
Speaking exclusively to DAZN thanks to NewBettingSites.uk, ex-Villa full-back Stephen Warnock praised Emery and how he's brought out the best in the Villa squad.
He said: "I was fortunate enough in the summer to go to America when they were playing in the summer series. I got to watch Villa train and sat down with Emery to chat with him, as well as chatting with John McGinn and Ezri Konza. The way those guys talked about the manager was incredible.
"The respect they've got for him, the improvement that they've noticed in every single player and not only themselves.
"Then when you speak to Emery and you see what he's trying to achieve and how he improves players and what he's looking for, the fine details, it's no surprise to me that they are where they are because I think he's a top quality manager.
"If he gets some Champions League football, which I think he will, that is huge."
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