Aston Villa Star Emi Buendia has detailed the conversations he had with Unai Emery this summer which led to his return under the Spaniard this season.
AS held an interview with the 29-year-old man today. He is on a high after playing a key role in Aston Villa's Europa League success Heading towards the World Cup with Argentina.
Best Aston Villa Season
The midfielder has enjoyed his best season to date at Aston Villa. He scored 11 goals and nine assists in 54 games in all competitions and played a key role under Emery after returning in the summer.
He returned to Aston Villa in the summer after a loan spell from Bayer Leverkusen for the second half of last season.
The perception was that Aston Villa would focus on different players and make moves in the summer. However, a difficult summer window gave the Argentine a chance to impress. He has done just that and explained how.
When asked what the key to the transformation was, she said, "A lot of hard work. A lot of hard work, a lot of confidence too."
“I always knew and told both the coach and the coaching staff that I felt capable of staying at the club this season.
"Then, throughout the season, with hard work, you see things start to go well. That's important in this game. And well, it's also about personal confidence, confidence in my teammates, confidence in the coaching staff and trying to have my best season individually."
unai emery conversation
His return to Aston Villa last summer saw him in talks with Unai Emery about what he could do going forward.
The midfielder has previously struggled to impress under the Aston Villa boss but is now one of his star men. And he revealed what their conversation was like before the season started.
"When the transfer window opened, we had a conversation where we discussed what I could contribute to the team," he said.
"I made it clear that I want to stay at the club and help. Emery knows how to get the best from each player. Personally, in my role on the field and taking into account the demands he makes on each player, we work individually to be able to deliver what he needs as a coach.
"From the beginning, with a lot of hard work, paying close attention to every detail, paying attention to everything that can make a difference. We grew with the team throughout the season."
move flop to success
The turnaround is interesting for Emi Buendia, who was considered a major flop before impressing under Emery.
After impressing for three years at Norwich City he moved to Villa Park in 2021 on a €38.4m deal. He was a star for the Championship team but struggled to make the step up to the Villans. Now he is a major player and is thrilled to remember that move from five years ago.
"It wasn't that big a leap because I spent three incredible seasons with Norwich, in which we won all four championships. In mid-season we played in the Premier League, but we couldn't avoid relegation," he concluded.
"When I signed for Villa, I already had experience of playing at the highest level in the world. I grew up embracing the pace of English football, which is essential to playing this dynamic style. And then developing technical skills which are very important.
“I remember the call from Aston Villa with great emotion because the project they presented to me, fortunately, gradually became reality over the years.
"The club's ambition was to achieve the things we are experiencing now. It was a big step in my career. I'm personally very proud of it, and today I can enjoy all these wonderful things."
