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Unai Emery and Ollie Watkins react to controversial ending to Aston Villa draw with Juventus


Aston Villa FC v Juventus - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5

Unai Emery felt Aston Villa ‘dominated the match’ (Picture: Getty Images)

Aston Villa were denied an injury-time winner against Juventus in controversial fashion, with Unai Emery and Ollie Watkins both describing the decision as soft.

Morgan Rogers thought he had poked home a 94th minute goal to put the home side 1-0 ahead, but it was ultimately ruled out.

Diego Carlos was adjudged to have fouled Juve goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio as they both jumped for the ball before it dropped to Rogers.

Emery was philosophical, pleased with how his team played, but disappointed with the decision, which he didn’t think would be given in the Premier League.

‘I’m very happy. We dominated the match,’ Emery told TNT Sports. ‘With the last action, it is the interpretation of the referee. In England, 80 per cent of those is given a goal and it not a foul. It’s very soft. But in Europe, it could be a foul. We have to accept.”

‘We were closer than them to winning the match. They’re very difficult to beat but we created a plan. There weren’t many clear chances for either team.

‘It was a tight match for both teams but I am happy with the overall picture in the Champions League. We still have the possibility of finishing in the top eight.’

Diego Carlos clashed with Michele Di Gregorio (Picture: Getty Images)

Watkins added: ‘I think it’s soft, maybe in the Premier League it’s a goal, but not in Europe. In the competition the goalkeepers are protected by the referees but I thought it was a goal.’

The England striker admitted that Villa would have been fortunate to take three points, though, saying: ‘It had 0-0 written all over it, so it would have been lucky had we won it.’

Morgan Rogers briefly got to celebrate what he thought was a huge goal (Picture: Getty Images)

The forward feels that European referees are generally stricter than at home, but it is something Villa are aware of now as they get used to the Champions League.

‘I’ve got to be careful what I say about the referee but the refereeing is different,’ he said. ‘Referees don’t let things go in this competition as much in the Premier League, but it’s out of our control really.

‘Some of those things go for you and some go against you and we have to accept that.’

The draw leaves Villa still well in contention for a top eight finish, sitting ninth on 10 points.

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Source:: Metro

      

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