As Unai Emery’s incompatibility with Arsenal became obvious to all, he faced humiliation and embarrassment.
The Spaniard’s 18-month reign at the Emirates ended in ridicule after a 1-1 draw against Vitoria Guimaraes, with senior players apparently knifing him from the back of the plane over his accent and broken English.
The accent hasn’t changed much. Neither, for that matter, has his spoken English.
Yet, having elevated Aston Villa to fourth place in the English Premier League last season - they are currently eighth - and with a place in the last eight of the Champions League tantalisingly close, no-one in English football laughs at Emery these days.