Exclusive: 'The best coach of my career' – Adil Rami on why Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is special

Adil Rami believes that what sets Aston Villa's Unai Emery apart as a manager is his passion for the game and his eye for detail.

Emery has won the UEFA Europa League an astonishing four times, the only manager to have more than three titles in its history, and this season is looking to lead Villa to the Europa Conference League trophy as well as a top-four place in the Premier League.

Ahead of the ECL clash between Villa and his old club Lille - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - Rami talked about his time with Emery at Valencia and Sevilla and what makes him so special as a manager.

“He was the best coach of my career,” Rami told TNT Sports.

“I was lucky to have him at Valencia, and he brought me back to Sevilla.

“I've rarely seen a coach as passionate. I wondered how he managed to live, how his wife, his family managed, it's incredible.”

Rami explained that the details Emery focused on seemed to give his sides an edge, but he couldn’t put his finger on why it was more effective in Europe than in domestic football.

He also said that, like many players at various points in his career, he thought he knew more than the manager and even considered becoming one upon retiring.

However, Emery made him rethink that, especially as he never lost the personal side of management.

“He even knew the substitutes of our opponents, he made us videos. He told us everything about the opponent," Rami said.

“Why does it work better in Europe than in the league? I don't know.

"But in my career, sometimes I thought I wanted to be a coach. Sometimes, when I saw my coaches, I thought I could do better than them.

“Him [Emery], when I saw him, I thought I couldn't be him. I've never seen someone so passionate, a lover of football, and how he loves victory.

“He's so into it... And then, he would come to see you and ask about the family, your wife, and he was very close to us. Wow.”

Rami also explained that with Emery, he asked his players to put his trust in him and as long as they followed his instructions, if something went wrong it would be on him, not them.

“The most important thing for him is the detail. He's incredible. And he's a coach who takes responsibility," the Frenchman continued.

“For example, we were playing the Europa League final against Liverpool, and there was [Philippe] Coutinho, right-footed, and [Daniel] Sturridge, left-footed.

“He told the defenders and midfielders: 'we know these players, take them on their wrong feet. Coutinho will never go left, and Sturridge will never go right. If Coutinho scores with his left, I'm responsible.'

“Sturridge scores with an outside left foot while I had closed off that side. I got scolded at half-time. But he was like that.

“For example, with Arjen Robben, he would say: 'If he scores with his right foot, I promise you I'm responsible.'

“When you have a coach who takes responsibility, it's great. You're relieved of pressure and stress; you let it happen.”

Emery will be hoping to earn more success in Europe with Villa this season and you can watch the first leg of their clash with Lille, and much more European football, live on TNT Sports and discovery+ on Thursday.

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