What ref told furious Aston Villa stars minutes after controversial Man Utd loss

Aston Villa were on the wrong end of a refereeing clanger during their loss at Manchester United – which has major implications on them missing out on the Champions League

John McGinn admits the referee “didn’t really know what to say” after his blunder cost Aston Villa as they narrowly missed out on the Champions League. The Midlands outfit lost at Manchester United, but were denied a crucial opening goal.

Unai Emery’s side knew they needed to win at Old Trafford and hope results elsewhere went their way. They were down to ten men come half-time, but Morgan Rogers looked to have landed the game’s first goal when he seized on a goalkeeping error.

Altay Bayindir struggled to regather the ball and Rogers was able to nip in before converting into an empty net, but the referee felt that the United goalkeeper was unfairly dispossessed and blew before the ball crossed the line.

VAR intervened and replays showed that Rogers was within his rights to take the ball off Bayindir, but the ref’s whistle meant he couldn’t have his decision changed, which left the Villa players fuming.

McGinn admitted the official was almost lost for words, knowing the impact his decision had on the game and Villa’s European hopes, questioning whether a referee of his experience should be given a game of such magnitude.

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The Scot said: “He didn’t really know what to say. Because of the impact it has on us as players and our careers, the club, you are obviously angry. I think he is a young referee who has progressed very quickly. Maybe we could look at having more experienced referees. I don’t know. It’s just an incredible decision and makes today even worse than it should be.”

United scored twice after the refereeing error. Amad opened the scoring with Christian Eriksen later making the gamer safe, but the decision clearly rattled the Villa contingent with Emery fuming on the sidelines.

McGinn added: “I think everyone wanted the correct decisions when the VAR was implemented. You watch rugby, even if the referee has awarded a try and it’s wrong, it’s overturned. It’s so so hard to take especially when the impact it has on us, as a club and a team, is so big. Its’ really, really tough to take and handle. I don’t think we deserved to win but if you were 1-0 up at that point and all you need is a point to get to the Champions League, it’s costly.”

Villa will instead play in the Europa League, missing out on goal difference after they failed to take advantage of Newcastle’s loss to Everton.

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