‘Unai Emery is a disgrace’ – Aston Villa fans rage at manager’s ‘absolute howler’
Aston Villa fans turned their frustration towards Unai Emery after the team suffered a crushing 4-1 defeat to Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
Emery’s side struggled at Selhurst Park as Jean-Philippe Mateta, Eddie Nketiah, and a brace from Ismaila Sarr sealed a dominant victory for the hosts.
Morgan Rogers had given Aston Villa a glimmer of hope with a second-half equaliser, but their optimism was short-lived as Crystal Palace quickly restored their lead and never looked back.
The match wasn’t without controversy, particularly involving Rogers. Shortly after Palace’s opener, he believed he had brought Villa level after finishing off a move started by Ollie Watkins. However, VAR intervened and ruled the goal out for offside by the narrowest of margins.
Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has since called for a rule change, arguing that attacking players should be given the benefit of the doubt in such tight offside decisions.
Despite the debate over VAR, Villa fans were more concerned with Emery’s tactics on the night, with frustration mounting as the club drops to 10th in the table.
Oliver Glasner caught off guard by Unai Emery’s tactical switch
Palace boss Oliver Glasner admitted he was “surprised” that Aston Villa matched their formation, a move that has left fans questioning Emery’s decision-making.
Emery has been heavily backed by the club’s board since his arrival, with the January transfer window highlighting that support through signings such as Marco Asensio, Marcus Rashford, and Donyell Malen.
Aston Villa are already looking to make Rashford’s move permanent after his impressive performances since arriving.
However, Emery opted against starting both Rashford and Asensio against Crystal Palace, despite the duo combining effectively in Villa’s recent victory over Chelsea.
The defeat at Selhurst Park marked their fourth loss in six away matches, leaving them in 10th place and sparking concerns over their form.
Aston Villa fans fume at Unai Emery after tactical disaster
Emery’s decision to switch to a back-three to match Palace backfired, despite Rogers briefly equalising. Rogers shared a disappointed message with Aston Villa fans after the game but he was their standout player on the night.
Supporters have been vocal in their criticism of the tactical approach, particularly Emery’s decision to change formation for a specific opponent. One fan admitted they are “starting to question Emery” while another labelled it “comfortably Emery’s worst-ever tactical performance.”
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