Aston Villa, Unai Emery
(Credit: Imago/TNT Sports on X)
Villa News Speaking to Bryan King
Thu 13 March 2025 16:10, UK
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery was involved in a rather unusual incident with Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen on Wednesday.
Villa cruised past Club Brugge in the last-16 of the UEFA Champions League, beating the Belgian side 3-0 at Villa Park on 12 March to record a 6-1 win on aggregate.
Marcus Rashford was in fine form against Brugge, with Rio Ferdinand wowed by the Aston Villa loanee who helped his side to a big victory in the West Midlands.
Villa will now face off with Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-final, with the two clubs already set for close contact in the coming months to discuss the permanent transfer of Marco Asensio.
However, on what should have been a rather routine evening for Emery and his players, the 53-year-old managed to get himself caught up in a controversial incident toward the end of the match.
Aston Villa
Emery has guided Aston Villa to the quarter-final of the Champions League (Credit: Imago)
Emery and Hayen involved in late controversy
As per TNT Sports via X (12 March), Emery, Hayen and the fourth official all agreed on no additional time with Villa 6-1 up on aggregate against 10-man Club Brugge, with Keith Hackett suggesting IFAB laws were broken.
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However, ex-Villa scout Bryan King – speaking exclusively to Villa News – would like to know exactly what was said between the two managers, as he isn’t so sure that this is what happened.
“I don’t think Emery will get into any trouble,” King said.
“That conversation could have been about anything. I’d like to see the written dialogue because this sounds a little bit funny to me. I’m not going to put anything on that because the person who makes the decision isn’t the manager, it is the referee.
“Therefore, he is the one who would have questions to answer. I can’t see Emery or their manager having any influence on the time of the match.”
Emery and Aston Villa will be fully focused on PSG
This was no doubt a strange incident, and one which UEFA might look to investigate.
However, it is unlikely that Emery will face any punishment, as he wasn’t the decision-maker in the situation. Therefore, the Villa boss has likely already put the incident out of his mind and will be fully focused on the task at hand against PSG.
Champions League quarter-final Venue Date
PSG v Aston Villa Parc de Princes 9 April
Aston Villa v PSG Villa Park 15 April
Aston Villa will play PSG for a place in the last four of the Champions League in April
The two legs with the French giants will be Villa’s biggest games in decades, and Emery has a real opportunity to make history by guiding his side to the final four of the Champions League.
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