Unai Emery: Aston Villa boss reveals why he went down Old Trafford tunnel before full-time in eight-goal thriller at Man Utd

A prickly Unai Emery claimed he headed down the Old Trafford tunnel after Manchester United's late equaliser against his Aston Villa side because he thought the match was about to end.

Villa threw away two separate two-goal leads to draw 4-4 with United in a Super Sunday thriller - but the 97th-minute equaliser from Michael Carrick's side, scored by Patrick Dorgu, brought about a strange reaction from Emery.

The Villa manager was seen walking down the tunnel before the full-time whistle, with the match continuing for another two minutes before it ended.

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Villa have complained about the legitimacy of United's fourth goal - with United goalkeeper Senne Lammens accused of impeding with Villa counterpart Zion Suzuki as he competed with Dorgu for the corner.

Asked if Emery walking down the tunnel was due to the emotional about the goal standing "No emotion. They scored in minute 96 and there were six minutes added. I [thought] the match was finishing."

When asked if he felt the goal being awarded was unfair, Emery replied: "No, no. Not unfair. Please.

"They scored the goal in minute 96. You were making the question [about why] I left before. Because the minute 96 and 30 seconds, was when we started the kick-off."

Full transcript of Emery's prickly interview

Sky reporter Patrick Davison: Does today happen because you're a new team or young side? It is an experience they have to learn from?

Unai Emery: "I don't know."

PD: Does history play a part, we spoke before the match that Aston Villa don't have a good record here.

UE: "We are in our way and we might be positive, even with this defeat [draw]. We have to be moving on with the process we have."

PD: We saw you left...

UE: "More, more, more questions?"

PD: Last one Unai, we saw you left before the end while VAR were...

UE: "They scored in minute 96!"

PD: Just emotion?

UE: "No emotion. They scored in minute 96 and there were six minutes added. I think the match was finishing."

PD: You brought something up that I wasn't expecting. Did you think the goal was unfair?

UE: "No, no. Not unfair. Please."

PD: Ok, I'm listening.

UE: "They scored the goal in minute 96. You were making the question [about why] I left before. Because the minute 96 and 30 seconds, was when we started the kick-off.

"My English is so poor, but it's clear or not?"

PD: No, you've explained it well.

UE: "Ok. Thank you, thank you very much. More questions?"

PD: No all done.

UE: "No? Thank you very much. Have a good Sunday."

Villa chief complains about equaliser standing

Villa's director of football operations Damian Vidagany took to social media to show his dismay at United's last-gasp equaliser against his team being allowed to stand.

United goalkeeper Lammens - who went up for the corner - made contact with Suzuki whilst not looking at the ball, which left Villa furious. VAR checked and cleared Lammens' involvement in the goal.

Sky Sports' Roy Keane says "football is a contact sport" which means the goal should be allowed to stand.

However, Vidagany posted on X: "To put in context this convenient narrative of 'contact sport' we've been told by referees during the summer that this season to go to unbalance or push the GK on purpose on the six-yard box was not going to be allowed anymore.

"Lammens did not even look at the ball, went straight to do a contact with the hip over Zion.

"Having said that we played good match and we must do better than last six minutes. We will do and we will improve.

"But the rules are the rules and must be respected. That is a fact."

Is Emery angry with his players?

Emery admitted his anger at seeing Villa throw away their significant advantages at Old Trafford - but revealed his anger was not directed at his players.

"Angry, of course," he said in his press conference. "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."

Asked how United were allowed to come back into the game, Emery replied: "They did the same here against Roma with the supporters pushing, they were playing with heart.

"The last moments when we were close to finishing the match, with [Patrick] Dorgu left side, we couldn't defend him good.

"The last corner we were focusing on the adaptation, protecting them to try to avoid the block. Zion [Suzuki] is going to improve, adapting to the Premier League, but during the process we conceded one more.

"But Zion is very fantastic how he is performing."

Aston Villa's upcoming fixtures

• November 21: Sunderland (h)
• November 24: Galatasaray (a), Champions League
• November 28: Ipswich (a) - live on Sky Sports
• December 2: Everton (h) - live on Sky Sports
• December 5: Crystal Palace (h)
• December 8: PSG (h), Champions League

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