Aston Villa

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery speaking to BBC Match of the Day on Morgan Rogers’ disallowed goal: “Good evening. We started very poorly today and we weren’t playing like we wanted to play. We were getting better and starting to get into good positions and getting into their box, and then we had the red card [for Emiliano Martinez]. And after the red, the game was completely different.

“We needed resilience. We were doing that. We needed to defend and believe that some attacking chance will come to score the goal. We had it.

“It was a mistake, we know. And the referee as well, he knows. Of course, we have to accept mistakes of the referees. He knows. And of course, we are making mistakes as coaches and players. And the referees can make these mistakes too.

“Today we lost the opportunity to be in the Champions League, but to be in the Europe was the priority and objective. To be in the Europa League is something we have to appreciate.”

On the Martinez red card: “It’s so difficult to accept that we were missing one plyer. Because in a match like that against Manchester United at Old Trafford, 11 versus 11 was difficult, but with one player less, it was more difficult. But we were competing and trying to believe we will have some chances to get into the box. But when we did it, we had the goal disallowed. I am accepting it was a mistake but it was the key moment. May be with that goal, the match could’ve been different.

On the Villa season: “We have to accept the whole season. Today is the consequence of the whole season. We were not being consistent in the first half of the season. I am proud of the players and the season we have had. And we need to keep going next season.”

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