Emery clenches his fists at Aston Villa player in furious Fulham moment
Aston Villa got their Champions League push back on track via a 1-0 win over Fulham at Villa Park on Saturday.
However, Unai Emery wasn’t pleased with all aspects of his side’s victory over the West London side, while the West Midlands giants still sit adrift of the top five courtesy of their inferior goal difference.
Furthermore, Villa will sit three points behind the Champions League spots if Chelsea beat Liverpool on Sunday (4 May), or if Nottingham Forest can defeat Crystal Palace on Monday (5 May).
Emery’s men travel to Bournemouth on 10 May and will be vying to achieve their second consecutive win in the Premier League.
Emery left furious with Villa defender in victory over Fulham
Youri Tielemans’ early header ensured that the Villa Park club enjoyed a 1-0 win over Marco Silva’s men in the West Midlands.
But Emery was left fuming with Ezri Konsa when the England international stopped and hoped for a foul, handed Fulham’s Harry Wilson an opportunity to score.
Wilson failed to convert the chance for the Craven Cottage outfit, but Emery was spotted clenching his fists at Konsa.
As posted by The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell on X (3 May), Emery went “absolutely mental at Ezri Konsa for stopping and hoping for a foul” in the build-up to a missed Fulham chance.
Tanswell added: “[Emery] clenches his fists and swipes at the air as Konsa tries, briefly, to argue back.”
Villa’s win over Fulham could be vital
After enjoying a strong Champions League run and even beating French Ligue 1 giants PSG in the second leg of their quarter-final, Villa will be desperate to have their seat at the top table of European football once again next term.
| Opponent | Result |
| Manchester City (A) | 2-1 L |
| Crystal Palace (FA Cup semi-final) | 3-0 L |
| Fulham (H) | 1-0 W |
Their win over Fulham ensures that the men in claret and blue are level on points with an all-important top five spot with just three games left to play, albeit both Chelsea and Forest can widen that gap.
Furthermore, after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in their FA Cup semi-final on 26 April, Villa have done well to bounce back with a victory over Fulham.
That sort of resilience will be vital for Emery’s side amid a tight race for the Champions League spots, which appears set to go down to the wire.
The men from Villa Park should have enough quality at their disposal to overcome the challenges posed by Bournemouth, Tottenham, and Manchester United in their final three outings.