Sports
Emery Walks Off Old Trafford Pitch After 96th‑Minute Goal, Explains Decision
Unai Emery explained why he left the Old Trafford pitch before the final whistle of Aston Villa’s 4‑4 draw with Manchester United, a move that drew attention after the hosts scored their fourth goal in the 96th minute. Speaking to Sky Sports after the match, the Spaniard was asked whether the result exposed his side’s inexperience and youth, and whether the game offered a lesson to learn from. "I don’t know," he replied. When pressed on Aston Villa’s history and past results at Old Trafford, Emery said, "We are going our own way, and we can be positive even with this defeat." The question of his early exit followed. Cameras had captured him heading down the tunnel while the video assistant referee reviewed United’s fourth goal. Emery appeared surprised that the point kept coming up: "They scored a goal in the 96th minute!" Asked whether emotion got the better of him, he answered, "There is no emotion at all, they scored in the 96th minute, and 6 minutes of added time had been awarded, and I thought the match was about to end." He clarified that he did not think the goal was unfair, insisting the timing was the issue. "They scored the goal in the 96th minute, you were asking why I left before that, because 96 minutes and 30 seconds was the moment we started the kick‑off," he said. The Villa boss finished with a joke at his own expense, poking fun at his command of English: "My English is very poor, but is this clear or not?"
Frequently asked questions
Why did Unai Emery leave the Old Trafford pitch before the final whistle?
He left because he thought the match was about to end, citing the 96th‑minute goal and 6 minutes of added time, and that the timing was the issue.
Did Emery think Manchester United’s 96th‑minute goal was unfair?
He said he did not think the goal was unfair; he only mentioned the timing was the issue.
What did Emery say about his English?
He joked that his English is very poor, asking if it was clear.