‘He knows it’ – Emery says referee made ‘big mistake’ as Aston Villa miss out on Champions League | OneFootball

Unai Emery says the referee made a “big mistake” in Aston Villa’s defeat to Manchester United.

Villa were denied a place in next season’s Champions League after a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United, but were on the wrong side of a controversial refereeing decision.

Emery’s side saw goalkeeper Emi Martinez sent off in the first half but thought they had taken the lead through Morgan Rogers in the 73rd minute.

However, referee Thomas Bramall blew his whistle just before the ball hit the back of the net, ruling that goalkeeper Altay Bayindir had control of the ball when Rogers had stolen it beforehand. VAR could then not intervene due to the whistle being blown prior to the goal.

“It was a big mistake,” Emery said. “But we have to accept it. Of course it was a mistake, a big mistake.

“The match we played overall in 90 minutes, with the red card, with this action, this goal disallowed, it was the key moment. But overall, they deserved it more, Manchester United.

The Villa manager, who was seen waiting by the tunnel to speak with the officials after full-time, added: “Yes, I told him (the referee). But he knows it.”

Emery then avoided answering if Bramall had admitted to the mistake, simply pausing and replying: “Next.”

Despite the frustration, Emery refused to blame the officiating entirely and admitted Villa were not at their best.

“We lost the opportunity, but we didn’t deserve more,” he said. “We started the match today poor in our performances, collectively, individually.”

“After 25, 30 minutes we were getting better in our positioning on the field. It was a key moment, the sending off of Emiliano Martinez.

“After that, we needed to be resilient, we needed to defend, we needed to defend low block, goalkeeper, and believe in our moment to get some attacking action or some corner, some foul. We scored one goal.”

Villa will play in the Europa League next season and Emery emphasised that progress has still been made at the club.

“We are in Europe,” he said. “Last year in Conference League, this year in Champions League, next year in Europa League. To be in Europe is important. Being three years in a row in Europe, I think it’s something, we are showing our consistency.

“The objective at the beginning of the season was to be in Europe. We got Europa League; we have to be happy. We lost the opportunity to be in the top five in the first half of the season.”