Aston Villa’s firm stance on Unai Emery sacking after Roberto Olabe appointment revealed

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TBR Football can exclusively confirm Aston Villa’s stance towards Unai Emery’s future in the wake of Roberto Olabe’s backroom appointment.

On Tuesday afternoon, TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey confirmed that Olabe was Villa-bound, and the club confirmed it later in the day.

Monchi has stepped down as President of Football Operations and will continue in an advisory role at V Sports, with Olabe taking over from him, Aston Villa announced in a club statement.

Such a big change in the boardroom will invariably lead to questions over the manager’s future, but Bailey has confirmed that nothing of the sort will happen at Villa.

Roberto Olabe appointment underlines Aston Villa faith in Unai Emery

Bailey has told TBR Football that Villa are fully committed to the “world-class” Emery, and that the Olabe appointment is a clear sign of the Villans’ faith in the manager.

When asked whether Villa have any doubts over Emery, Bailey replied: “No, they’re fully committed to Emery. They know they’ve got a world-class manager there.

“And I think the Olabe appointment is a clear sign that they brought him in to help Emery, to be part of the Emery project. It’s a clear sign the Emery project is still green-lit, full steam ahead.

“Emery is key to that whole thing. He wants to put it right – we’re seeing that.

“If it hadn’t been someone like Olabe, I would have had my doubts.

“But the fact it’s Olabe coming in, I think really underlines the commitment of the owners to Emery, and should give the fans who want Emery to stay some real comfort in that appointment.”

READ MORE: Aston Villa fans will love what Spanish football insiders thought of Real Sociedad under Roberto Olabe

What Aston Villa fans can expect from Roberto Olabe

With Olabe taking the reins as Villa’s new President of Football Operations, fans will be eager to know what his strategy will be.

Olabe likes to develop exciting young prospects into top players, and is also keen on giving chances to players whose stock may have fallen.

Alexander Isak and Martin Odegaard may be flying for Liverpool and Arsenal respectively, but when Olabe signed them for Sociedad, both were struggling.

“Time is an investment itself,” Olabe told Football Espana during a La Liga-hosted interview in 2023.

“Of course it is linked to money too, you have to give them the resources, but you have to invest time in the players. And we have the responsibility to give them chances.

“The demands of the elite are significant, but everyone has the responsibility to open doors for the youngsters.”