Minute 96: Angry Unai Emery gives an interview for the ages as Villa implode vs Man United
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery was in no mood for questions as his side threw away two separate two-goal leads to draw 4-4 against Manchester United in a Premier League thriller on Sunday. But it wasn’t just the result that left the Spaniard frustrated. His post-match interaction with Sky Sports reporter Patrick Davison quickly became one of the most talked about moments of the night.
Villa conceded a 97th-minute equalizer through Patrick Dorg, allowing Manchester United’s Michael Carrick to salvage a point after he looked down and out. The late goal prompted an unusual reaction from Emery, who was seen walking down the tunnel before the referee blew the final whistle.
Asked by Davison if his decision to leave the touchline was an emotional reaction to United’s late goal being allowed to stand, Emery quickly shut down the suggestion.
“No emotion. They scored in the 96th minute and six minutes were added. (I thought) the game was over,” replied the Villa manager.
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The exchange grew increasingly awkward as the reporter tried to understand whether Emery believed United’s equalizer should have been disallowed.
“No, no. It’s not unfair. Please,” Emery said before returning to the circumstances of his leaving the comm line.
“They scored the goal in the 96th minute. You asked the question (why) I left before. Because in the 96th minute and 30 seconds we started the kick-off.”
The Spaniard then appeared to lose patience with the line of questioning, adding: “My English is so bad, but is it clear or not?”
Davison assured him that he had explained himself well, but Emery was not quite ready to go any further.
“Okay. Thank you, thank you very much. Any more questions?” he asked before ending the conversation with a polite but pointed “Have a nice Sunday.”
VILA THROWS A TWO GOAL LEAD
The interview came after an extraordinary evening at Old Trafford, where Villa looked to have done enough to take all three points before Manchester United produced a late display.
Alysson and Nicolas Jackson struck twice in the opening five minutes to give Villa an early advantage. United responded with a Bruno Fernandes penalty and Youri Tielemans equaliser, but Emery’s side restored their two-goal cushion after the break.
Diogo Dalot conceded a penalty after fouling Alysson, allowing John McGinn to score in the 48th minute. Leon Goretzka then added Villa’s fourth five minutes later after another United defensive error.
However, Carrick’s side refused to give up. Joshua Zirkzee pulled one back in stoppage time before Doorgu converted with a header from a corner in the 97th minute.
Villa have since questioned the legitimacy of the equaliser, with Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens accused of obstructing Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki as he attempted to deal with the set-piece. Suzuki failed to make clean contact with the ball, allowing Dorg to head home.
However, Emery refused to call the decision unfair when asked about it after the match. His frustration seemed to stem more from the circumstances surrounding the final minutes and questions about why he walked down the tunnel before the final whistle.
For Carrick, the result offered some encouragement in a difficult season. United came from two goals down in midweek to beat Roma 3-2 in the Champions League and their late recovery against Villa provided another reminder of their ability to defend.
“I thought we were the better team. We played very good football and got back into the game. The two goals put us on the back foot again. We could have won it in the end,” said Carrick.
“We never gave up and never stopped believing.
However, the draw did little to improve United’s position in the Premier League table. They remain 18th with eight points from 10 games, only on goal difference above Sunderland heading into the international break.
– The end