Unai Emery shares touching moment with Dean Smith and tells the ex-Aston Villa boss ‘thank you for everything’ as they reflect on the club’s form – with fans heaping praise on the pair for their mutual respect ahead of West Ham clash

Unai Emery and Dean Smith shared a moment of mutual respect in front of the television cameras ahead of the match between Aston Villa and West Ham.

Smith spent more than three years at the club between 2018 and 2021, leading them back to the Premier League via the play-offs during his first season.

On Sunday, Smith returned to the pitch he had frequented as a boyhood fan, although this time he was undertaking expert duties for Sky Sports and tasked with interviewing the club’s current boss.

The pair hugged and Emery thanked Smith before Smith asked him how he has managed to turn Villa Park into such a fortress since taking over the club in November.

‘I always try to be organised. Here with our supporters we feel their connection. We want to do something on the field to be connected to them and feel that strongly.’ Emery said.

The pair shook hands and hugged before the match, with Emery thanking Smith for what he did for the club

Emery also praised the work rate of Ollie Watkins, the former Brentford striker who was brought to Villa by Smith in September 2020 for a then club record.

‘He is very professional and demanding of himself.’ Emery added.

‘Practicing every day, he wants to have tactical individual analyzes with him. I talk to him every day.

‘It’s a challenge, he has to be focused on scoring and do his job defensively. Even if he doesn’t score, he plays well and does his job.’

Despite an acrimonious end to his time as manager at the club, when he was sacked after five consecutive Premier League defeats, Smith’s performances during his time in charge have ensured that he has remained a much-loved figure among a large section of the club’s fan base.

After the interview clip was shared, supporters took to social media to reflect on Smith’s time in charge and praise the interaction between the club’s former and current manager.

Fans on social media shared their support for the two managers and praised their mutual respect for each other

One fan wrote: ‘You can see the mutual respect between the two of them. It is clear that Emery researched the club in depth when he agreed to join, and clearly to see how much Deano still loves this club.

‘Two favorite managers we’ve had since I started watching’

Another added: “No words to describe how much I love these two men.”

One fan wrote: ‘Great to see Emery getting the love he deserves from Villa.’

Another fan agreed: ‘Both very important for the revival of our team! I love this!’