The football manager of Villarreal, Unai Emery, has denied that he has any link with Newcastle United that are seriously looking for a top coach that can save them from relegation.
Since the club sacked coach Steve Bruce after a 2-3 home defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur on October 17, the club has not been able to get a permanent coach.
The Premier League side have been playing their games using a caretaker coach, Graeme Jones after the departure of Bruce. Under the care of Jones, the club has recorded a draw and a defeat so far.
Even though the new owners of Newcastle United are over £320 billion rich, it has not been easy for them to find a new coach that will head the club. The club is currently in the relegation zone with 4 points in 10 games, just 2 points above bottom-placed Norwich City.
Based on this status, it would be difficult for a top European coach to accept the challenge of coaching the club even though there would be enough money for such a coach to spend in the transfer market.
Amid the quest to get a top coach, Unai Emery’s name has popped up. Reports in some media outlets in the United Kingdom claimed that the Spanish tactician is a top contender for the job.
However, ahead of Villarreal’s Champions League group stage game against Young Boys scheduled to kick off at 21:00 later today, November 2, Unai Emery debunked the report.
The former Arsenal coach who has won four Europa League titles said via AS: “I don’t know anything about Newcastle.”
Unai Emery’s decision to reject Newcastle United could be based on the fact that he is currently coaching a more stable club. His team, Villarreal, are currently pushing to qualify from UEFA Champions League Group F.
He has led the team to win a game, draw a game, and lose a game so far in the campaign. His team is currently sitting on the second spot with 4 points in three games, 2 points away from first-placed Manchester United.
While in the Spanish La Liga, Unai Emery has helped Villarreal to win 2 games, draw 6 games, and record 3 defeats. They are currently sitting on the 13th spot with 12 points in 11 games.
Even though Villarreal are not doing as fine as they did last season in which they finished on the 7th spot in the league and won the Europa League, Unai Emery would prefer to remain at the club except the club’s board sack him.
Despite that, the speculation that Newcastle United are interested in him is still waxing stronger as at the time of publishing this report.
Meanwhile, the Premier League side wants to announce their new coach this week ahead of the Premier League game against Brighton on Saturday.
Before now, the coach who seemed closest to being appointed as the new coach of Newcastle United was the former coach of Roma Paulo Fonseca. Reports claimed that the coach and the Premier League club have had talks but some members of the club’s board are having a second thought over his appointment.
Apart from Unai Emery and Paulo Fonseca, other coaches who could be appointed by Newcastle United this week are Roberto Martinez, Lucien Favre, or Eddie Howe who is regarded as the second-best option after Unai Emery.
Unai Emery & Eddie Howe were both interviewed by members of the #NUFC board over video call at the back end of the weekend. After a thorough process, Emery is the manager they’re going for to replace Steve Bruce. Villarreal, Emery’s club, play in the CL tonight.
— George Caulkin (@GeorgeCaulkin) November 2, 2021
