Unai Emery said in a bizarre interview that Aston Villa “is not in the top five candidates” after losing 1-0 to Everton.
Villa missed the chance to put pressure on Arsenal in the Premier League title race when they ended the day as they started it; seven points behind the Gunners, who drew 0-0 with Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Emery appeared frustrated in his post-match interview with Ski Sportsgiving one-word answers and even remaining silent when asked why he felt Villa could not compete with the teams at the top of the Premier League.
He said: “We are not a contender to be in the top five. We are still not a contender.
“There are other teams with more potential than us.”
Back in the studio, pundit and former Villa player Ashley Young branded the interview “strange” and Jamie Redknapp was equally confused, finding Emery’s demeanor “strange”.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Everton’s Premier League win against Aston Villa
Young said: “He looked really angry. Maybe it’s the injuries, another added to the list with John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onan missing.
“Is it the sale of Doniel Mullen? Is he talking to tell the owners I need more players.
“It was a strange interview. You think he would have talked more about the game and the missed opportunity to close the gap on Arsenal.”
To say there were five teams with more potential was strange.
Redknapp added: “It was certainly one of the strangest interviews I’ve ever seen. A bit at the end, when it goes quiet. It was a very reasonable question.
“I don’t know what he’s trying to allude to. I guess he’s just really devastated by the performance and the result. They need players.
“We looked at what they had on the bench, they were short. They have no options. Harvey Elliott didn’t work and wasn’t on the bench, Jadon Sancho was sick.
“It looks like Boubacar Kamara is going to be out for a long time and John McGinn has a knee problem. They’re going to have to step up in that midfield.”
The time of departure from Malen was questioned
Decision of Aston Villa to sanction Donniell Malen’s transfer to Roma this week is in question.
The deal is an initial loan with an option to buy and was signed ahead of this weekend’s Premier League games.
Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rodgers endured difficult afternoons at Villa Park and Emery’s options on the bench were limited.
Speaking of co-commentary, Ski sports Chris Sutton he said: “The only thing I don’t understand… Malen may have always gone to Roma, but why sell him this early in the month when you don’t have a replacement?
“He has influenced a lot of games for Villa this season.”
That was the point ski sports Redknapp picked up after full time.
“Malen leaving midweek felt a really strange decision when you look at the bench, they had no options today,” he said.