Rio Ferdinand has told Unai Emery to “sit back down” in a bizarre rant after Aston Villa lost 1-0 to Manchester United last weekend.
Villa headed to Old Trafford on a 10-match unbeaten run, and had won eight games in that time to boost their chances of qualifying for European football.
Emery’s side are currently in seventh position and Villa face their best opportunity to secure a top seven finish for the first time since 2010 with only four games remaining this season.
Their first loss in 11 was described as “harsh” by goalkeeper Emi Martinez, who conceded in the 39th minute when Bruno Fernandes’ effort was deflected in.
For the first time since Emery took over from Steven Gerrard in November, Villa failed to score, and were defeated on the road for the first time since losing 3-1 at Man City back in February.
Former United defender Ferdinand thought Erik ten Hag’s side gave Emery a reality check after Villa’s unbeaten run was ended on Sunday.
We stopped their 10-game unbeaten run,” Ferdinand said about United’s win over Villa on his FIVE Podcast.
Unai Emery was producing miracles, and who steps up to stop him? Bruno. Sit back down, Unai. Have a reality check and know your place.”
Villa will travel to Molineux to face Wolves on Saturday, before hosting Tottenham Hotspur the following weekend. Emery’s team must pick up a solid points return from those two games as European rivals Liverpool and Brighton have games in hand during the run-in.
Both clubs will face Villa in the final weeks of the season, as the Reds host them at Anfield, and Brighton make the trip to Villa Park on the final day of the season.
