Aston Villa were pegged back by two late goals in the thrilling 4-4 draw against Man United at Old Trafford
Man United's equalising goal.
Aston Villa's Zion Suzuki thought he was fouled for Man United's equalising goal(Image: Sky Sports Premier League )
Aston Villa director of football operations Damian Vidagany has explained why he believes that Manchester United’s stoppage-time equaliser shouldn't have stood, hitting out at an explanation from Roy Keane in the process. Villa looked on course to take all three points from the game, but two late goals from United meant that they had to settle for a point.
Villa found themselves 2-0 up with just three minutes on the clock at Old Trafford, thanks to goals from Alysson and Nicolas Jackson. But United were level at half-time, with Bruno Fernandes scoring from the penalty spot and Youri Tielemans coming back to haunt his former club to score his first Man United goal.
The second half started off brilliantly again for Villa, with John McGinn scoring from the penalty spot and Leon Goretzka bundling the ball in from a set-piece. Joshua Zirkzee got what looked like a consolation for United in the second minute of added time.
John Townley
John Townley
But things weren’t over yet, as Patrick Dorgu scored from a late, late corner to break Villa hearts.
Amid complaints from Villa players, who thought a foul should have been given on Zion Suzuki, by Senne Lammens. Keane told Sky Sports: "I don't think Suzuki gives himself the best chance of getting it, he's underneath it, just take a step back and attack it.
"There are bodies in the way, but there's lots going on, football is a contact sport. I have no problem with it."
Former Villa and Man United man Ashley Young said: "I don't think there's enough in that, there's definitely not enough in that for me."
Keane added: "I've said it before, a goalkeeper in this situation should take command of it, if he's talking about getting blocked and pushed, why doesn't he do that to the opposition players? He's got to come and be aggressive, take command of it, when the ball comes in he’s on his heels and he's got to be more aggressive and take command of that six-yard box."
The comments were shared by Sky Sports in a clip on their social media channel, Vidagany quoted the clip and gave his own view.
Roy Keane and Ashley Young on Sky Sports.
Aston Villa chief Damian Vidagany has hit out at Roy Keane's comments. (Image: Sky Sports)
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"To put in context this convenient narrative of "contact sport" we've been told by referees during the summer that this season to go to unbalance or push the GK on purpose on the six hard box was not going to be allowed anymore," he wrote on X.
"Lammens not even look at the ball, went straight to do a contact with the hip over Zion. Having said that we played good Match and we must do better than last 6 minutes.
"We will do and we will improve. But the rules are the rules and must be respected. That is a fact."
Speaking about the late goal in his post-match press conference, Unai Emery said that the team must adapt to the situation: "Angry? To accept the two late goals is difficult," he said.
"It is a process and a good example. How we conceded this last goal, it is adaptation for Suzuki. They are pushing and disturbing him.
"Other countries, they do not permit it. Here, yes. We have to continue analysing and having experiences and trying to avoid situations like we conceded. Am I angry?
"We must accept that this is the process of adaptation. We have drawn three and won three of our last six matches. We are in a good process, but we are losing opportunities, like against Fulham and today as well.
"With the fans pushing, they [United] played with their heart. You can control it. We stopped them in the second half, but in the last minutes they continued pushing and had individual actions. We couldn't defend Dorgu well.
"The last corner, normally, if we were focusing on how the keeper needs protecting, we would defend it. Zion will improve adapting to the Premier League in situations like that.
"Zion is fantastic how he is performing, but there is still work to do."