Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has explained his unusual decision to walk down the tunnel before the final whistle of his side’s dramatic 4-4 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford, insisting he believed the match was already coming to an end.
Villa surrendered two separate two-goal advantages in an entertaining Premier League encounter, with Manchester United fighting back to secure a late equaliser through Patrick Dorgu in the 97th minute.
However, Emery’s reaction to the goal attracted almost as much attention as the result itself. The Spanish manager was spotted heading towards the tunnel shortly after United scored, even though the referee had yet to blow the final whistle. Play continued for approximately another two minutes before the match officially ended.
When questioned about his early departure and whether it was caused by frustration over the equaliser being allowed to stand, Emery dismissed the suggestion that emotions had influenced his decision.
” No emotion. They scored in minute 96 and there were six minutes added. I thought the match was finishing,” he explained.
The Villa boss also rejected claims that he considered the goal unfair, clarifying that he had simply expected the game to be over.
Aston Villa Question United’s Late Equaliser
Despite Emery’s explanation, Aston Villa were unhappy with the circumstances surrounding Manchester United’s fourth goal.
United goalkeeper Senne Lammens had moved forward to join the attack for the late corner and made contact with Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki while competing for the ball with Dorgu.
Villa felt Lammens had impeded Suzuki, particularly because the United goalkeeper appeared to make contact without looking towards the ball.
The incident was reviewed by VAR, but the goal was eventually allowed to stand, sparking further debate over goalkeeper protection and physical contact inside the six-yard box.
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane defended the decision, arguing that football is a contact sport and that the goal was legitimate.
However, Aston Villa director of football operations Damian Vidagany expressed a different opinion in a post on X.
He argued that referees had previously indicated that deliberately pushing or unbalancing goalkeepers inside the six-yard box would not be tolerated this season.
Vidagany questioned Lammens’ actions, claiming the goalkeeper appeared to make direct contact with Suzuki using his hip rather than attempting to play the ball.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that Villa needed to improve their defensive performance, particularly during the closing stages.
He wrote that although the team had played well overall, they needed to learn from the final six minutes and ensure similar mistakes were not repeated.
Emery Frustrated as Villa Throw Away Valuable Points
While the debate surrounding United’s equaliser continued, Emery was more concerned about how his team allowed such a commanding position to slip away.
The Villa manager admitted that he was angry with the outcome, particularly because his players had worked hard to establish a two-goal advantage on two separate occasions.
However, he was quick to clarify that his frustration was directed at the situation rather than the players themselves.
“Angry, of course. To accept to lose in the last minutes two goals, it is difficult. I am angry for the situation, not with the players. We lost the opportunity to have two points more,” Emery said.
Asked how Manchester United managed to fight their way back into the contest, Emery pointed to the atmosphere at Old Trafford and the determination shown by Michael Carrick’s players.
He suggested that the home supporters played an important role in driving United forward, comparing the atmosphere to their previous performances against Roma.
Emery also identified Patrick Dorgu as a major threat during the closing stages, admitting that Villa struggled to contain the United player on the left flank.
The Spaniard explained that his team found it difficult to defend Dorgu effectively as United increased the pressure in the final moments.
He also discussed the defensive organisation during the decisive corner, revealing that Villa had tried to adjust their positioning and prevent United from creating a blocking situation.
Despite the criticism surrounding the goal, Emery remained supportive of Suzuki, insisting that the goalkeeper had been performing exceptionally well and would continue to improve as he adapts to the demands of the Premier League.
Villa Must Learn From Old Trafford Disappointment
The 4-4 draw delivered plenty of entertainment but left Aston Villa with mixed feelings after they came so close to securing an important victory.
For Emery, the biggest disappointment was not simply conceding four goals but allowing Manchester United to recover from difficult positions and take two valuable points away from his team.
Although Villa remain confident in their performances, the match highlighted the importance of maintaining concentration and defensive discipline until the final whistle.
With the Premier League season continuing to intensify, Emery will expect his players to learn from the experience and avoid repeating the late defensive lapses that cost them victory at Old Trafford.
By Precious Ebi 
By Samson