Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers celebrates
Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers celebrates (Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
Former Aston Villa midfielder Paul Merson was waiting for the whistle the minute Diego Carlos challenged Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, just prior to Morgan Rogers sticking the ball in the net in stoppage time at Villa Park on Wednesday night.
Merson was watching Villa's Champions League clash with Juve while on punditry duties and took in the events at the very end of the goalless draw, as Rogers wheeled away in the belief that he'd snatched a precious victory for a Villa side which are now seven without a victory.
While he doesn't necessarily agree with the decision made by referee Gil Manzano, who was consulted by his assistants before eventually ruling the goal out, Merson can understand exactly why it was chalked off - simply, the goalkeepers on the continent get more protection from officials than those in the Premier League can expect.
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"Unfortunate? Yeah, but it's different European football," Merson told Sky Sports. "We've seen that over the last few weeks with the penalties that have been given. How long has it been where you touch a goalkeeper and it's a foul?
"We see it and I just called free kick straight away. I just thought as soon as someone touches the goalkeeper, I know he made a meal of it but it's so, so hard in Europe - they get so much more, the goalkeepers. Emery is right. If it was in this league, in the Premier League, I think it would have stood but not in European football."
Merson added of Villa's general form: "It is hard and that's why you have got to hold your hands up and clap teams like Man City, who win the league and get so far in Europe every year. It's, so, so difficult and you have got to pick yourself up. These are massive nights they've had, they're not playing the run of the mill European teams.
"They've played some massive football teams already in Juventus and Bayern Munich at Villa Park. I remember when they beat Bayern Munich, they followed it up with Man United and it was like after the Lord Mayor's show - and that's Man United coming to town.
"That's what it's like at the moment, it's going to be hard, but they have got to keep on hanging in there. They've had a good start in the Champions League. I think that's 10 points they've got. They've got Celtic at home. It's great what they're doing at the moment, but they're having a little bit of a sticky patch.
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