Simon Grayson has lavished praise on Unai Emery, insisting the Spaniard has done a 'wonderful job' at Aston Villa.
Emery returned to England in November 2022 after previously struggling during his stint in charge of Arsenal, with the veteran leaving Villarreal having guided the LaLiga side to Europa League glory the previous year.
But the 52-year-old has silenced his critics since returning to the Premier League, with Villa enjoying a spectacular season so far.
They currently sit fourth in the league table, with only Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal above them.
Unai Emery has been praised by Simon Grayson for the job he's done at Aston Villa
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And Grayson, speaking exclusively to GB News per Best Online Casino, has hailed Emery for improving Villa and making them a force to be reckoned with.
"Unai Emery's done a wonderful job, he's come in and transformed the playing style, the results, got the fans really back on side and got the club, which is a huge football club, gojng in the right direction," he said.
"Obviously when I was there they were playing in Europe for a couple of seasons and it's what the club demands.
"It'll be fantastic, a truly great achievement to do what he does.
"I think what he's done is taken them to a level but also the demands will be can they go to the next level.
"Villa is a huge, huge football club and it wasn't too long ago that Arsenal were playing in the Europa League etc and now challenging for the top with a bit of money behind them.
"The biggest thing any football club needs to do, right across the divisions, is improve in any window you have.
"This summer will be a big opportunity. You don't have to spend millions of pounds but need to get the right players that suit you, that suit the football club.
"That'll be another big step in the right direction.
"Then when you get to January, can you get the next few players to come in and move forward?
"Hopefully Villa can because they're a huge club, as I keep saying."
Emery was hired as Arsenal's replacement for Arsene Wenger in 2018.
But he lasted less than two years in the dugout before being replaced by Mikel Arteta.
Grayson, however, believes Emery's sacking in north London has 'worked out for all parties'.
And he thinks Emery is no longer as underappreciated and underrated as he was before.
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Unai Emery struggled during his time in charge of Aston Villa before rebuilding his managerial reputation
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"I think if you ask Villa fans they'll be totally in disagreement with you, they'll think he's God given what he's done," he said when asked if Emery doesn't get the respect he deserves.
"It's just football in general, sometimes you don't appreciate what you've got at your football club until it's gone.
"The clubs he's managed before, it's probably worked out for all of them.
"Arsenal are challenging for the Premier League, so it's worked out for Arsenal.
"Unai went away and came back and it's worked out for him as well."
Unai Emery has made Aston Villa fans dream of Champions League football next season
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Villa are next in action against Wolves on March 30.
The two teams drew 1-1 when they met at Molineux back in October.
