Aston Villa boss Unai Emery understands Villarreal fans being upset with him.

Emery quit Villarreal earlier this season for Villa.

He told AS: "It's really quite natural. All of us need to go in search of challenges at some time or another. I have been fortunate enough to have been at three top level clubs in Spain: Valencia, Sevilla and Villarreal. Obviously, I am very grateful for that, but then the next step in Spain would be to coach Atlético, Madrid or Barça… But breaking through that barrier comes with a lot of difficulties.

"The Premier League has given me the chance to continue growing. Of course, Sevilla, Villarreal and Valencia did that too, but here, I am confronted with new difficulties. And let's not forget that the Premier League attracts the highest number of investors, the best managers and players in the world.

"I have grown a lot in LaLiga and have great admiration for the Spanish league, but due to certain situations, I had to leave to work in Moscow and then Paris. I started to distance myself a little from Spain. But those experiences helped me get to the next level, new limits. The next one was the Premier League with Arsenal.

"The Premier League has always been attractive. It's the birthplace of football and where there is a genuine feeling about everything that surrounds this sport: the fans, the passion with which they live the game, every city protects its teams, the fans are incredibly faithful…"