Exclusive:That’s really very Disastrous from Unai Emery

Unai Emery gave an awkward post-match interview after Aston Villa suffered a 3-2 defeat to Manchester United after a second-half capitulation

The Aston Villa manager started his interview in a blunt and tentative fashion, punctuating his words with thoughtful chin strokes and uneasy laughs.

He had just seen his side’s 2-0 lead devastated by a burst of second-half brilliance by Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund, as Man United fought back to claim a thrilling victory.

Goals from John McGinn and Leander Dendoncker had put Villa on course for a win which would have taken Aston Villa joint top of the Premier League.

Despite their second half collapse, Emery was in no mood to entertain negative talk.

Laughing, he said: ‘Now you’re asking me in another direction! Good, good, only analyse tonight. Sixty minutes, fantastic. Fantastic.’

After wins over Manchester City and Arsenal, Villa had emerged as surprise Premier League title challengers but followed a draw against struggling Sheffield United by surrendering a 2-0 lead to Man United.

The defeat was their first defeat since November 5 and keeps Aston Villa in third place, but after the terse start to the interview, Emery opened up about the game.

The Spaniard was keen to focus on the lessons his team could take from the match.

He said: ‘Manchester United, when they scored the first goal, the supporters here, they came back, the atmosphere, pushing them. And they have very good players.

Of course, we had to be demanding but accepting as well. One team like Manchester United here can come back like they did

I want to analyse this match with the first 60 minutes we played, very good. Then of course we have to take experiences and we have to improve in the level we want to get, the level we want to achieve