Iago Aspas questions Unai Emery’s coaching methods

Iago Aspas Unai Emery comments have resurfaced in Spain, with the veteran forward admitting some players struggled with the Aston Villa manager’s intense analytical approach during their time together at Sevilla.

Unai Emery has transformed Aston Villa since arriving in November 2022. The club qualified for the Champions League in 2024/25 for the first time in over four decades and currently sit third in the Premier League, firmly in contention to return to Europe’s top competition.

Yet not everyone has been fully convinced by his methods.

Speaking to Cadena Ser’s El Larguero, Aspas reflected on his spell under Emery at Sevilla during the 2014/15 season.

“When I was at Sevilla in 2014, he would give us 45 minutes of videos and some of us would fall asleep,” Aspas said.

“There were people who didn’t understand. A Frenchman who’s just arrived at 9:30 in the morning isn’t going to understand if they show him 45 minutes of video analysing the opponent.”

Aspas was quick to acknowledge Emery’s achievements, adding:

“Emery’s career didn’t go too badly either; it was excellent. Sometimes not everything works. Some foreigners would fall asleep.”

The forward scored 10 goals in 25 appearances under Emery and won the Europa League that season, the only major trophy of his career.

Having followed Emery’s coaching evolution over recent years, his reputation for meticulous preparation and detailed tactical sessions is well established. At Aston Villa, those methods have coincided with significant progress in league position and European qualification.

Video analysis and opponent breakdown are now standard at elite level. However, as Aspas’ anecdote suggests, not every player adapts instantly to information-heavy preparation.

It is also worth noting the timeline. Emery’s managerial career since 2014 has included multiple European trophies and sustained domestic success, reinforcing the effectiveness of his structured approach.

However, individual experiences inevitably vary, particularly in multinational dressing rooms.

Aston Villa continue their push for Champions League qualification under Emery, with consistency across the final months of the season crucial. For Aspas, his reflections serve more as anecdotal insight than criticism of a coach whose track record speaks for itself.

Are demanding tactical sessions the price of elite-level success, or do they risk losing parts of the squad?