Emery furious with VAR and updates on Onana injury after Aston Villa lose semi-final first leg | OneFootball

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery was left furious with VAR after losing 1-0 to Nottingham Forest in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final.

The only goal of the game came from the penalty spot, after VAR intervened to award Forest a spot kick for a handball by Lucas Digne. However, it was not that decision which Emery took issue with.

The Spanish coach was seething after Elliot Anderson escaped a red card after a nasty challenge on Ollie Watkins. The Forest midfielder went over the ball and went studs up into Watkins’ ankle, but VAR chose not to intervene.

“The penalty I didn’t watch but I think everybody is telling me it’s a penalty,” conceded Emery. “The referee did a fantastic game, he did a fantastic job.

“I was feeling so comfortable with how he was managing the match in 90 minutes but after watching the VAR action with Ollie Watkins, the VAR referee, it’s his responsibility.

“It’s a huge mistake. A huge mistake because Ollie Watkins was close to breaking his ankle.

“It is the VAR’s responsibility and I don’t understand why. He must give us an explanation about it, because it’s crazy. Watching the action it’s crazy. Of course the referee can’t watch it like me.”

Emery’s rant continued: “One action like that can break his ankle and it’s so so clear on the VAR.

“The VAR makes sense if they are fair. I watched it, I was not understanding nothing.

“I am 100% for VAR but we must manage VAR good and in the right way. One action like that makes no sense because it’s so so clear.

“There is no doubt. Where is the doubt? Where is VAR? Where is the referee? Wow, crazy.”

There was also bad news for Villa as midfielder Amadou Onana was forced off with an injury.

“In the first half he was telling us he was feeling something in his calf but in another leg,” said Emery. “I don’t know how he’s going to recover.

“Hopefully in a few days he can recover. But of course we must be careful with him as well.”