Unai Emery sends Man Utd Ruben Amorim message as he responds to Erik ten Hag sack

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery admits he feels sadness for any manager who loses their job after Manchester United relieved Erik ten Hag of his duties earlier this week.

The Dutchman has since been replaced by Ruben Amorim, but he won't start work at Old Trafford for another couple of weeks. Ruud van Nistelrooy is taking charge of the first-team on an interim basis and won his first game against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup in midweek.

Despite losing both games against United last season, Villa finished eight points clear of them as they secured Champions League football. Villa are targeting a top four finish again this season and head to Tottenham this weekend, hoping to mark Emery's first two years in charge with a big victory.

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"Firstly, when I arrived here my first message to the players was that I was sad, because when a coach gets sacked it’s not good," Emery said when asked about United's appointment of Amorim. "It is the same at United with Ten Hag. It is not good news but it is football. We have to accept it as coaches when things happen like that.

"I know something about Ruben Amorim because we played sometimes. He has done great work in Portugal with Sporting and if United decided to appoint him, it is because he deserves it."

Villa drew 0-0 with United before the October international break and just days after their memorable win against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

If Villa beat Spurs and United lose their match against Chelsea, then the gap between the two sides will increase to 10 points. However United will cut the gap to just four points if they win and Villa lose.

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