Peter Crouch defends ‘top class’ Unai Emery and says Villa boss was unfairly treated at Arsenal

Peter Crouch has defended ‘top class’ Unai Emery saying the Aston Villa boss was unfairly treated at Arsenal after being turned into a ‘figure of fun’.

Emery failed to win the fans over and they even mocked him during his time at the Emirates Stadium after taking over from long-serving boss Arsene Wenger, not just for their fortunes on the pitch, but for his grasp of the English language.

The Spaniard, 51, has since gone on to win the Europa League at Villarreal and made it all the way to the Champions League semi-finals.

Former striker Crouch said: ‘I only think there’s a lack of respect in this country. If you go to Spain or France you won’t find that level of disrespect. 

‘That comes with the job at Arsenal, it was a difficult position for him, a difficult time and he became a figure of fun almost with some of the interviews and things like that.’

Peter Crouch has defended Unai Emery saying the Spaniard  was unfairly treated at Arsenal

Former Aston Villa striker Crouch, 42, said: ‘I only think there’s a lack of respect in this country’

‘Then he goes back to Spain and wins the Europa League and proves what a top manager he is. In all honest I think Villa are lucky to have him,’ Crouch, 42, continued.

‘He’s a top, top class manager, a Champions League manager. A manager of the highest calibre. 

‘He’s proving with the journey with the job he’s done what a top manager he is.’

Rio Ferdinand added: ‘They’ve got someone who is very meticulous in his approach. We’ve seen in Europe he has vast experience. 

‘He sets his team up to be very hard to play against but also to be a threat when they get the ball. 

‘He’s got extensive knowledge of the game, a proper coach, and they’re seeing the benefits of that. 

‘He’s getting players playing that weren’t playing before. One of the main staples of his teams is the organisation and hard work.’

Emery failed to win the fans over and they even mocked him during his time at the Emirates

‘They’ve got a top, top manager on their books. You can look at Howe a year ago, he joined Newcastle when they were struggling at the bottom of the league,’ Shay Given said.

‘It’s a similar situation when he joined here at Aston Villa, he’s build them up gradually. 

‘In the last couple of weeks we’re really talking about how far they’ve come. 

‘They’ve got wealthy owners here at Villa Park as well, if he gets backed in the summer and brings in some players we could be talking about Villa challenging for Europe.’