{"id":3694,"date":"2026-05-04T07:49:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T07:49:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=3694"},"modified":"2026-05-04T07:49:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T07:49:42","slug":"unai-emery-responds-to-west-ham-and-nottingham-forest-over-aston-villa-actions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=3694","title":{"rendered":"Unai Emery responds to West Ham and Nottingham Forest over Aston Villa actions"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Unai Emery has responded to anger from West Ham and Nottingham Forest over his Aston Villa team selection against Spurs which many feel disgraced the integrity of the Premier League.<\/strong><\/p>\n

West Ham were dumped back into the relegation zone and Nottingham Forest were dragged right back into the mix when Spurs beat Aston Villa 2-1 away on Sunday night.<\/p>\n

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Fans of the Hammers and Nottingham Forest were furious with Unai Emery, accusing him of disgracing Premier League integrity, after he made seven changes to his team to face Tottenham Hotspur.<\/p>\n

Despite not having Champions League football officially secured through the league, Emery appeared to prioritise Villa\u2019s Europa League semi-final second leg vs Forest which is to come on Thursday night.<\/p>\n

Emery defends Villa rotation amid West Ham and Forest fury<\/h2>\n

Villa trail 1-0 from the first leg and have not won a major trophy for nearly 50 years. So many argue Emery is well within his rights to juggle his team and squad as he sees fit.<\/p>\n

West Ham and Forest were encouraged by the fact Aston Villa had won nine of their 12 Premier League games after European matches this season, drawing one and losing just two.<\/p>\n

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What a sorry old mess \ud83d\ude2a How have we let it slip AGAIN?!<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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But a shock defeat was added to that list as Emery left three of his first choice defenders on the bench as well as main goal threat Ollie Watkins.<\/p>\n

Like West Ham and Forest fans, Nuno Espirito Santo and Vitor Pereira would have been fearing the worst when they saw Villa\u2019s team sheet drop on Sunday evening.<\/p>\n

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There was suddenly a feeling of inevitability that Spurs would get a win and Villa were so disjointed and poor that it came relatively comfortably in the end.<\/p>\n

That leaves West Ham in the bottom three, a point behind Tottenham and three behind Forest \u2013 who play away at Chelsea on Bank Holiday Monday.<\/p>\n

Social media was flooded with criticism of Emery from fans of not only the Hammers and Tricky Trees but clubs across the country.<\/p>\n

Supporters also noted how detached Emery seemed during the match and criticised his delay in making changes to the team.<\/p>\n

Emery baulks at claims he disgraced Premier League integrity<\/h2>\n

After the game an animated Emery responded to West Ham and Nottingham Forest fury over his Aston Villa team selection amid accusations he has brought the integrity of the Premier League into disrepute.<\/p>\n

Emery\u2019s interview with BBC Sport got tense as he defended his rotation of the Villa squad following their defeat to Tottenham which puts West Ham on course for relegation.<\/p>\n

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Nuno still feels positive about West Ham\u2019s chances \u2013 but do YOU?<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Here\u2019s how Emery\u2019s fiery exchange with the BBC reporter unfolded:<\/p>\n

Reporter:<\/strong> \u201cSome people will say you made seven changes, and did that have an impact on how you played? What\u2019s your take on that?\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"Unai<\/div>
Photo by Neville Williams\/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Emery:<\/strong> \u201cLast week we lost against Fulham, and which players played against Fulham? And which players played against Nottingham? And we lost (those) two matches, and we lost as well (vs Spurs) with other players. <\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, so (that shows) we can lose and we can win with any of the players.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reporter:<\/strong> \u201cBut do you think that maybe cohesion was a problem because it was so many changes?\u201d <\/p>\n

Emery:<\/strong> \u201cWhen we are losing, of course (cohesion is a problem), but we lost on Thursday. We lost in Fulham, and which players played?\u201d<\/p>\n

Reporter:<\/strong> \u201cFine, just asking the question.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emery: <\/strong>\u201cOkay, and I am answering you.\u201d<\/p>\n

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“I am answering you!”<\/p>\n

Unai Emery’s interview gets a little tense as he defends his rotation of the Aston Villa squad, following their defeat to Tottenham. pic.twitter.com\/8ao2nnA9Jg<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) May 3, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

West Ham face Arsenal at the London Stadium this weekend while Spurs host Leeds and Forest welcome Newcastle after Monday\u2019s trip to Chelsea.<\/p>\n

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