Emery early tunnel exit — Unai Emery has said his decision to leave the touchline and head down the Old Trafford tunnel before the final whistle was because he believed the match was about to end, not because of emotion over Manchester United’s late equaliser. The Aston Villa manager’s early tunnel exit came during a remarkable 4-4 draw on Sunday, after Patrick Dorgu scored in the 96th minute for the hosts.
Villa had led twice by two goals but were pegged back in a pulsating Super Sunday contest. Dorgu’s late strike, which came deep into six minutes of added time, prompted Emery to walk down the tunnel while the game continued for another two minutes.
Emery: No emotion in tunnel exit
When asked whether his departure was driven by frustration at the goal standing, Emery was adamant. “No emotion,” he said. “They scored in minute 96 and there were six minutes added. I thought the match was finishing.”
He also rejected the suggestion that the goal was unfair. “No, no. Not unfair. Please,” Emery added. He explained that the kick-off after the goal began at around 96 minutes and 30 seconds, which was when he left his position.
The Villa boss faced a series of questions in a prickly interview with Sky Sports after the match. Asked whether the collapse was due to his side being new or young, Emery replied: “I don’t know.” He added that Villa are “in our way” and must continue with their process despite the draw.
Emery later clarified in his press conference that his anger was directed at the situation, not his players. “Angry, of course,” he said. “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.”
Villa dispute equaliser legitimacy
Villa’s director of football operations, Damian Vidagany, questioned whether United’s fourth goal should have stood. He posted on X that goalkeepers were told in the summer that deliberately unbalancing or pushing an opponent in the six-yard box would not be permitted this season.
Vidagany argued that United goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who had gone up for the corner, made contact with Villa’s Zion Suzuki with his hip while not looking at the ball. VAR reviewed the incident and cleared Lammens’ involvement, allowing the goal to stand.
Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane said “football is a contact sport” and believed the goal should be allowed. Vidagany, however, insisted the rules must be respected. “Having said that we played good match and we must do better than last six minutes,” he wrote. “We will do and we will improve. But the rules are the rules and must be respected. That is a fact.”
Late collapse frustrates Emery
Emery acknowledged that United’s comeback was fuelled by the support at Old Trafford, comparing it to their recent match against Roma. “They did the same here against Roma with the supporters pushing, they were playing with heart,” he said.
He pointed to the final moments as the key to Villa’s undoing, particularly the inability to defend Dorgu on the left side and the concession from the last corner. “The last corner we were focusing on the adaptation, protecting them to try to avoid the block,” Emery explained. “Zion is going to improve, adapting to the Premier League, but during the process we conceded one more.”
Despite the disappointment, Emery praised Suzuki’s overall performance. “Zion is very fantastic how he is performing,” he said.
Villa now turn their attention to a busy schedule, starting with Sunderland at home on November 21, before a Champions League trip to Galatasaray and a Premier League visit to Ipswich.
