In modern football, the press conference is a catchphrase to which football romantics must now bow. Emotions matter relatively little, only information counts. On October 25, Unai Emery decided to break his contract unilaterally at Villarreal, in the midst of the 2022-2023 La Liga season. Alongside the Roig tandem, father and son, the Basque explained his choice: “My departure is linked to a professional decision that I had to make. I came to Villarreal to achieve goals that the club had almost achieved and that I had already achieved. I thank them for this confidence and I believe that we have been It allows us to meet here, in this way, during this farewell.
Unai Emery and Julen Lopetegui during Aston Villa – Wolverhampton in the Premier League, January 4, 2023
Credit: Getty Images
Champions League
Even on the bench, can Mbappé change everything?
6 HOURS AGO
The talent drain
The longevity of a coach within a club having become an exception in this football market launched at full speed, Emery’s adventure with the yellows can be cataloged as a timeless success. Winner of the Europa League in 2021 then semi-finalist of the Champions League in 2022, all in a city of 50,000 inhabitants, Emery brought his know-how to become the architect of an extraordinary sporting performance. But at a time when the leaves were falling from the trees, the information of this departure did not move many people. Worse: it was done in a certain symbolic indifference of the current grip of the Premier League, the goose that lays the golden eggs of European football. After turning down advances from Newcastle United a year earlier, Emery opted for Aston Villa, who were 16th-placed and just a point clear of the relegation zone when he arrived. It may seem surprising at first sight, but the Emery case is far from isolated when it comes to the relationship between La Liga and the Premier League.
In addition to the coach who already passed through Arsenal in 2018-2019, three other Spanish coaches play in the English league (Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, Julen Lopetegui at Wolverhampton), which makes him the most developed nationality in the championship in this area behind the British (7). Added to this are footballers from La Liga, whose arrivals have been counted in spades since last summer: Casemiro at Manchester United, Alexander Isak at Newcastle, Philippe Coutinho and Alex Moreno at Aston Villa, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and João Félix at Chelsea, Renan Lodi at Nottingham Forest… Even the Championship made a few races in La Liga with the transfer of Matthew Hoppe from Mallorca to Middlesbrough. In the opposite direction, the transfer of Matt Doherty to Atlético de Madrid knows a slight echo, but that does not weigh very heavily in a balance largely favorable to export to the English championship.
Pep Guardiola (Manchester City) with the Premier League trophy, May 22, 2022
Credit: Getty Images
Romeo:
“I have loved every game I have played in the Premier League”
To tell the truth, this propensity of La Liga footballers to immigrate to the Premier League is not a recent phenomenon, among confirmed players as well as young shoots. In 2003, a certain Cesc Fàbregas had shown the way to a successful integration across the Channel by moving from the Barcelona Masia to the Arsenal first team, culminating in a Champions League final lost in 2006 once morest… FC Barcelona.
Five years later, the homegrown Oriol Romeu chose Chelsea to leave Barça de Guardiola, then reference of the time and reigning European champion. The following season, Romeu won the C1 in Munich following a penalty shootout once morest Bayern. And even if the defensive midfielder only played three games in this 2011-2012 European campaign victorious Blueshis decision to sign with a top club in English football has paid off financially, but also on the purely sporting side, since he has now played 239 games in the English top flight.
“In the Premier League there is no doubt that the financial aspect is very important.confides the current midfielder of FC Girona, resident of La Liga. From then on, it is easier to convince footballers and coaches to make the championship more interesting and attractive. But in the end, it’s not just the money. There, everything is done to fully experience football. When you watch the matches, you realize the intensity, the atmosphere. It’s incredible ! Honestly, I liked every match I might play in this championship. And I believe that in a certain way, this is also what makes it possible to convince more and more players in football. Of course, other projects are interesting and the Spanish La Liga is one of them. But to be fair, the Premier League is now above other leagues..”
C1: Real Madrid alone once morest all
When opening the second part of the Champions League 2022-2023, the situation is clear. As for the English clubs, the four clubs teams initially involved in the competition are still in the running to start the round of 16. Their record is almost perfect since three out of four clubs finished first in their group. For Spain, only defending champions Real Madrid survived the group stage. Despite the sale of part of its assets in the off-season, FC Barcelona missed the boat for the second consecutive time and will play the knockout stages of the Europa League once morest… Manchester United, second in their group in C3 behind the Real Sociedad. Victim of a catastrophic start to the season, Sevilla FC is still donated to the Europa League thanks to its third place, while Atlético de Madrid has already ended its European season.
A single Spanish representative in the final draw of the C1 is a first since the 2003-2004 season, a time when Spanish football still dominated the UEFA coefficient ahead of the English. Since the 2006-2007 season, these two nations have been in the first two places in European football. And since 2021, England has regained control and continues to widen the gap once morest its Iberian dolphin. Should we conclude that La Liga as a whole has dropped in level? To say so would be to denigrate the progress of clubs with long-term management like Villarreal or Real Betis.
On the other hand, it is clear that Real Madrid are the only Spanish heavyweights to have built their squad for long-term European performances, like the gradual emergence of Federico Valverde, Vinicius or Rodrygo already aware of it. recipe for winning the Champions League. It front of Blancos, the English horde is more than ever ready to bring out its best elements to bring down the White House. Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool have revenge for last season…
Champions League
And now, which eleven to challenge Bayern?
12 HOURS AGO
Champions League
Real, Naples, City: Why it is impossible to determine a favorite in the C1
02/10/2023 At 5:48 PM
