Why have Man United ignored the credentials of Unai Emery when it comes to appointing a permanent boss?

Unai Emery ticks most of the boxes where Manchester United are concerned. He lives for football and stops at nothing in a bid to get the most of himself, not just those around him.

He is a proven winner and has managed some of Europe’s biggest clubs. These include Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and Sevilla. And up until a few weeks ago, had led Aston Villa into a title race alongside Arsenal and Manchester City. But it’s understood the Spaniard is not even on United’s radar as part of the club’s search for the next permanent manager. Which is odd.

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Emery is a manager who is more than hands-on – and doesn’t like being told what to do. Someone who could be regarded as a threat to some of those who sit on the United board of directors.

It’s true Emery can be a complex character. He is fuelled by umpteen cups of coffee a day, and is generally well and truly full of beans.

And Emery’s work ethic at Villa has become the stuff of legend. His days start early and finish late. He wants to spend as much time as possible at the club’s Bodymoor Heath training ground, working on his tactics, solving puzzles and holding meetings with his players.

The kind of manager who leaves no stone unturned in his quest to win matches. He will head to Old Trafford on Sunday with Villa, looking to put one over his main rival for Champions League qualification.

Yet he will arrive inside the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ without having registered his name in United’s thinking. Beating United might see this change.

And so it should. Because United have become fixated with targeting managers who appear to be unattainable., while allowing Michael Carrick to enhance his own chances, or ignoring those who could be attainable. And Emery should at least be in the conversation.

He would back himself to succeed at United, despite it remaining a monumental challenge.