Gary O’Neill Dismisses Claims of Bust-Up with Unai Emery After Midlands Derby Draw
In a recent Premier League match between Wolves and Aston Villa, there were claims of a bust-up between Gary O’Neill and Unai Emery after the two managers refused to shake hands following the 1-1 draw. However, O’Neill has now dismissed these claims, stating that it was a minor incident blown out of proportion.
The match saw South Korea striker Hwang Hee-chan continue his impressive form with another goal after 53 minutes. However, his opener was quickly canceled out by Pau Torres’ first goal for Villa. The game was intense and spilled over onto the sidelines, with Mario Lemina receiving two yellow cards and being sent off late in the game.
When asked about the incident that saw the two managers not shake hands, O’Neill clarified the situation. He explained that he was moaning at the fourth official about the extended playing time of 114 minutes. Emery, not wanting to wait for the handshake, walked down the tunnel. O’Neill stated that he had no problem with this and understood that managers often want to speak with the fourth official after the game.
O’Neill further emphasized that his conversation with the fourth official was only eight seconds long, so Emery wouldn’t have had to wait very long for the handshake. He reiterated that he has no issue with Emery and believes that a point from the match is fair. O’Neill also expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance, stating that they looked comfortable and there wasn’t a significant gap between the sides.
The draw allowed Wolves to extend their unbeaten record against Villa to six games in the Premier League. This result may be disappointing for Villa, as a victory would have taken them into the top four after an impressive start to the season.
In his post-game interview, Emery acknowledged the intensity of the derby and praised the atmosphere created by the supporters. He also downplayed the non-handshake incident with O’Neill, stating that it was “nothing.”
Overall, the match was a positive one for Wolves as they continue to build on their recent good results. They secured a 2-1 win against City in their previous game and now have an unbeaten record against Villa in the Premier League.
In conclusion, the claims of a bust-up between Gary O’Neill and Unai Emery following the Midlands derby draw have been dismissed by O’Neill himself. He clarified that it was a minor incident and that he has no issue with Emery. The focus should now shift back to the performances on the pitch, where both teams showed determination and fought for a well-deserved point.