Chess, lectures & ignoring noise: Emery masters Europe again

The extent of Emery's Aston Villa revolution cannot be underestimated. When the Spaniard took charge on 1 November 2022, Villa were 16th in the Premier League - two places and one point above the relegation zone. They went on to win 15 of their 25 league games to finish seventh and earn a spot in European competition for the first time since 2010-11. In his first full season, Emery secured Champions League football for Villa for the first time since 1982–83. …