Unai Emery's Straightforward Answer to Post-Match Handshake Snub
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery provided a blunt response after he was questioned about not shaking hands with Wolves boss Rob Edwards following Villa's disappointing 2-0 defeat at Molineux. The loss, which came on Friday night, saw bottom club Wolves secure only their second league victory of the campaign, marking arguably Villa's worst result under Emery's leadership.
Match Details and Emery's Actions
Joao Gomes opened the scoring for Wolves on the hour mark, with Rodrigo Gomes doubling the hosts' lead in the closing stages of second half added time. Emery left the dugout before the match concluded and did not engage in the customary post-match handshake with Edwards, heading straight down the tunnel instead.
Rob Edwards' Reaction and Respect
In his post-match press conference, Edwards downplayed the incident, joking that he had not shaken hands with opposition managers in previous wins at Wolves this season. He stated, "Not yet, I get it. The two games we won both managers had disappeared. They probably think they can turn up and win given how the season has gone! I've got a lot of respect for Unai, I think he’s brilliant, so it’s fine." Edwards emphasized his admiration for Emery and insisted he did not want to cause any drama over the snub.
Emery's Explanation to Sky Sports
When asked by Sky Sports why he avoided the handshake, Emery simply replied, "The match was finished." This concise statement highlighted his focus on moving past the defeat, as Villa now prepare for a critical upcoming match against Chelsea at Villa Park on Wednesday night, with both teams vying for Champions League qualification.
The incident has sparked discussions among fans and analysts, but both managers have shown mutual respect, keeping the focus on football rather than personal conflicts. Villa will need to regroup quickly as they face a challenging fixture against Chelsea, aiming to bounce back from this setback in their pursuit of European competition.
