- Matty Cash feels “quite surprised” that the Premier League did not include Unai Emery in the Manager of the Season candidates
- Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta, Regis Le Bris, Andoni Iraola, Keith Andrews, Michael Carrick were all nominated
- Cash has also spoken out about the lack of recognition Aston Villa receive
Matty Cash has expressed his surprise regarding Unai Emery’s omission from the Premier League Manager of the Season nominees. He also believes Aston Villa do not receive the recognition they deserve for their consistency under Unai Emery.
After Friday’s 4-2 win over Liverpool, Villa confirmed their qualification for the Champions League. It means it will be their fourth consecutive campaign where they will play in a European competition, the first time they have done this in their history.
This season has arguably been Villa’s toughest. A difficult summer of financial restraints, followed by an abysmal start to the Premier League, and then injuries to key players at the same time.
But despite all of that, Emery has managed to balance both domestic and European commitments and earn a top-five finish.
Yet, he missed out on a spot among the candidates for the Manager of the Season award. Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta, Regis Le Bris, Andoni Iraola, Keith Andrews, and Michael Carrick were all nominated.
Speaking to the Birmingham Mail, Cash admitted the omission “surprised” him.
“I was quite surprised, to be honest.
“With the circumstances that we’ve had in the summer, we obviously couldn’t really spend a lot of money, and what’s been going on behind the scenes or whatever. To do the job that he’s done is unbelievable. Quite surprised, but it is what it is.”
Do Villa get the recognition they deserve?
The Birmingham Mail also asked whether the Polish international believes Villa receive enough recognition, given the success they have had, whilst facing difficult challenges.
“We’ve never really, over the years. I think people still don’t see us as one of the top four or five teams. And that’s people not giving us the recognition.
“But the consistency we’ve shown over the last three to four years, since the manager has come in, I think we’re more than in the conversation of being a top five Premier League team, with the demands and the consistency that we’ve shown.
“But sometimes, it’s good to go as the underdog, because you can just sort of scrape along. I don’t know, maybe people will start to realise and recognise that we are a top team, and we’re hard to play against, especially at Villa Park where there’s such a great atmosphere.”
ReadAstonVilla verdict
While the people who decide the nominees may overlook Emery’s tactical brilliance, the history books will not. Under his meticulous guidance, Villa have shattered their own glass ceiling, turning financial hurdles and injuries into fuel for a historic Champions League qualification.
Cash’s frustration reflects a wider sentiment within Villa Park that mainstream pundits routinely undervalue sustained excellence outside the traditional “Big Six.”
However, the underdog tag clearly suits the resilient squad. By consistently going toe-to-toe with Europe’s elite and cementing a fourth consecutive European campaign, Villa have established a culture of high standards that can no longer be ignored. Individual accolades come and go, but European nights under the lights at Villa Park are tangible proof of progress.
Moving forward, the focus shifts towards ensuring they remain at the top and continue to disrupt the “Big Six”. If Emery’s side can improve the squad and reach levels they have only reached on a few occasions this season, then they can achieve it.
Award nominations may be subjective, but a top-five finish in the toughest league in the world, whilst facing significant obstacles, and also reaching a European final, is an undeniable statement that this club is here for the long haul.
