Maybe it’s all part of a cunning plan by the players to ensure Real Madrid stay well away from our Unai.
I'm sure the above was said in jest.
I'm not convinced that all the murmerings, mostly on social media, about Real Madrid sniffing around Unai have any basis in fact. In fact, I reckon Unai is here for the loug-haul.
He knows that there is work to be done. If, as some are claiming because it suits their narrative that we are a mid-table side that is massively overperforming, then it's obvious that if Unai can keep getting performances out of this side, to continually qualify for Europe, and to build 'the brand', gain the exposure, attract the tourists, attract the bigger commercial deals that the increased exposure brings then a mid-table side has the opportunity to become more of a true top-six side, in spite of the ever-changing financial rules hamstringing us.
Unai knows that this is a long term project, so do the owners. There will be bumps on the route. We hit a massive bump last night, or at least it felt massive because the team who it happened against have a fanbase who have forced a rivalry over the last eight years when it has suited them (having been silent of the thirty-five years plus previously).
I'm convinced Unai will learn from this. Things will change, but only within the constraints of whats available. If he's got a choice between Bailey or Sancho on the right he's unlikely to pick one of the untested kids there for the pressure-cooker atmosphere of the Premier League. And while I feel, for instance, Watkins needs withdrawing for his own good, Unai has to make that decision - he sees them day-in day-out whereas we don't.
Anyway, I think the point of this post was just to say Unai's going nowhere and I'm glad that's how it is.
