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Unai Emery slams VAR for not sending off Elliot Anderson in defeat to Nottingham Forest

Unai Emery slams VAR for not sending off Elliot Anderson in their 1-0 Europa League semi final 1st leg defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery criticised the video assistant referee for not showing a red card to Anderson who avoided any punishment for a slide tackle, catching the ankle of Ollie Watkins with his studs-up in the first half, but played the ball.

Villa went on to lose to a penalty awarded by VAR with Chris Wood scoring, following a Lucas Digne handball. Emery also had praise for referee Joao Pinheiro.

Emery told TNT Sports said: “Fantastic, the referee, fantastic. But the VAR is so, so bad. It’s a clear red card – I don’t understand why the VAR is not calling the referee because it’s so clear.

“And it’s very, very important. It’s a huge, huge mistake. VAR is responsible.

“The referee – fantastic, fantastic job, 10 out of 10. I appreciated how he managed the match for 90 minutes.

“But I watched it back – wow. Huge. He could break his ankle. Wow, VAR – where are you? Please. It is your responsibility, we are professionals. You are doing very bad work because it was so clear for everybody [to see]. He could break his ankle.

“I respect the referees always but VAR, I don’t understand. It’s not fair.”

He continued in his press conference, as per BBC Sport: “The penalty I didn’t watch – everyone is telling me it’s a penalty.”

“I watched the action of Anderson on Watkins, and the referee did a fantastic job,” Emery continued.

“I was so, so feeling comfortable with how he managed the game in 90 minutes, but after watching it again, it is the VAR responsibility.

“It is a huge mistake – a huge mistake. Ollie Watkins was close to breaking his ankle. The VAR has a huge responsibility and he must give us an explanation. It is crazy!

“The ref can’t watch it like me. One action like that can break his ankle. The VAR makes sense if they are fair. What is your opinion? Wow.

“In football I work 20 years as a coach. Sometimes decisions are tight. I am 100% with VAR, but we must manage it good and in the right way. One action like that, there is no doubt. Where is VAR?”

Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira speaking to TNT Sports: “They are a very tough team, but we competed with them. I like to see us playing football, trying to score. We have time to recover a bit and prepare for Chelsea. This is a special group of players.

“Unai Emery is a top manager, he has been with his team for a long time. We are together for a short time. In the end it was a good fight. I am very competitive, that’s why I like to be in the Premier League, to compete with this kind of manager.

“I had the privilege to be the manager of these boys, they are a fantastic group. Spirit, four managers in a season, and finishing at this level, competing at this level together and united. This is a honour for me.”

He continued: “We changed the players but kept the spirit. The mentality to try to win games. The supporters, fantastic, they help us a lot. Next time we face a big battle.

“For me it’s an honour to manage this club, to try to help these payers, to see the smiles on the faces of these supporters. To be part of the Nottingham family with a manager in the memory of everyone [Brian Clough].

“I am very proud of my players.

“The problem in the game last time we played them, a lot of times it was two against two, and it’s not easy to control them. I asked my players to play four against four with just one midfielder jumping.

“I am proud we played in our way, pressing high but if they attack then reorganise team in a block. Tactically, we did what we should.

“The transition of Villa is very dangerous, when they drive with the ball at our defensive line, it’s a big problem.

“When we go to win the ball we cannot lose, because they [Villa] are very aggressive in that moment.”

Nottingham Forest goalscorer Chris Wood speaking to TNT Sports after his side’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa: “It’s one leg of the tie. It’s nice to have the advantage but going to Villa Park will be a tough game. They’re good at their place. But we’ve done the job here at home and now hopefully we’ll build into next week.”

On the penalty which decided the leg: “It’s cup competitions. They come down to small margins at times. Both teams played very well. But it’s small moments that can potentially change games. Thankfully it went in our favour tonight and hopefully again next week.”

On his composure when taking the penalty: “That’s what I have to do and that’s what I try to do. It’s the job, the responsibility that my team gives me.”

On influencing the team after a significant injury lay-off: “That’s all I wanted to do. I wanted to get back fit and firing to help my team as best as I can at the end of the season. I knew we had a lot to play for when I was fighting to get fit and it’s showing. It’s some big competitions to be a part of.

“We’re in the crunch end of the season. We need to perform on both parts and we’ll be looking to do that for sure.”

Here’s how fans reacted after Unai Emery slams VAR for not sending off Elliot Anderson in the defeat to Nottingham Forest…

@DangeAVFC: Mistake was starting Buendia & keeping him on for as long as he did…

@JS21093: So was the intensity and the subs again but hey ho… not entertaining excuses. Pull your fingers out

@ianpetergibson: Yep, very poor tackle by Anderson- he goes over the ball, studs up. Clear red card.

@Russell_Ayles: The amount of people that believe getting the ball first means it’s not a red card is crazy. Maybe 30 years ago, but he’s gone over the ball into Watkins over the ankle, and in today’s game that’s a red card every time. Even by the letter of the law – is not just an opinion.

@JPH_84_NG: Sent out his team with negative mindset and now whinging about one tackle in the middle of the park. Refreshing refereeing performance, didn’t buy into any of the nonsense like the anti-contact premier league refs.

@ElTomasso2: Ref was superb, why not leave it at that. Anderson made contact with the ball first. Watkins made a meal of it

@Doctor_Vodka: I actually thought the ref was outstanding, let the game glow, kept his cards in his pocket & treated it like an EPL game pre VAR.So as a neutral I’m glad they didn’t get involved in most things, including that. The pen was just unfortunate

@shaung79: Nonsense. Played the ball.

@HendryNigel: So VAR can look around goal posts to see a ball has not gone 100% over chalk line but it can’t see a clear illegal break your ankle tackle🤔smells very bad doesn’t it?

@Tielemoons: He’s right. The only ones who will tell you it’s not a red are Forest fans. (I would do the same lmao dw). If this doesn’t give motivation to absolutely blitz them at Villa Park then I don’t know what would

@TheVillaHome: Should Anderson have been sent off last night…. yes. Does that make up for the fact we were lethargic, didn’t pose much of a threat after the first 10-15 minutes of the game, and were passive in large parts – no. Massively rate Anderson by the way, really like him as a player, but the challenge was worthy of a red…..

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