Aston Villa fans have expressed their anger on social media after their heavily-rotated side lost to relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday evening. Unai Emery's side were beaten 2-1 at Villa Park in the Premier League, with their consolation coming in the dying embers of second-half stoppage-time.
Emery made seven changes to his starting XI for this Premier League encounter, with his focus primarily on Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest, whom they trail 1-0. The gamble backfired as first-half goals from Conor Gallagher and Richarlison saw Spurs climb out of the relegation zone and stop Villa from moving up to fourth in the table, strengthening their position for Champions League football next season with a top-five finish.
Many Villa supporters had left the ground before full-time, and their annoyance was matched by those on social media. Taking to X, one livid fan labelled their first-half outing as a 'disgrace', writing: 'I've never turned off after 30 mins before but tonight is that time. An utter disgrace of 11 players not trying - after seven changes that essentially say "we don't care about this one". Rarely been as angry as a fan.'
That sentiment was matched by another who posted: 'As an Aston Villa fan I am utterly embarrassed by that first half performance. Those players should be ashamed.' A third Villa fan wrote that now all rivals will want them to lose to Forest as a result of this outcome: 'I have, at times, been critical of Emery. But tonight is the first time I have been DISGUSTED. Professional sportsman should never not try. This is the worst, passive, couldn't care less display by ANY team, all season. All fans will want us to lose to Forest. Rightly so.'
Another supporter was grateful he didn't go but labelled his side 'diabolical'. 'Thank f*** I didn't go tonight, still managed to spunk £100 in the local boozer. That was all on Unai Emery and the so called pathetic team that played! Diabolical! It's disgusting and disgraceful! We've been w*** for months.'
It wasn't just Villa fans angered, with many general football supporters annoyed at Emery's stance. Tottenham's win saw them go above West Ham and out of the relegation zone by one point with three games remaining. As a result, some fans have questioned the integrity of the Premier League due to Villa's much-changed line-up. 'Investigate Aston Villa @PremierLeague. Huge integrity issues here,' demanded one Sunderland fan.
One general football account bluntly put: 'Villa fans heading out of the ground after just 25 minutes after going 2-0 down to Spurs... Have to say it is disgraceful that Villa are allowed to play a second string team and essentially throw away the game to keep Spurs in the league. Absolutely stinks.'
Speaking post-match, Emery defended his decision to overhaul Aston Villa's starting XI. 'I have been here for three-and-a-half years now and I don't forget how we have done everything,' said Emery. 'Some of these players were winning several matches in a row earlier in the season. Now we have 58 points after 35 games of the season. I am so proud of the players. I am not linking the changes in the team to the results. We also lost at Nottingham Forest and at Fulham last weekend. When we beat Sunderland here (4-3 on April 19) I also made changes, but because we won, nobody said anything. We lost here because Tottenham played better than us. We must be realistic about everything. I don't change my mind or my point of view.'
Emery did not include captain John McGinn in the squad after the midfielder complained of a tight hamstring during Saturday's training session. 'Speaking to him, we decided not to take a risk,' said Emery. The feeling is that had this game been decisive, McGinn would have played. It would be a surprise, therefore, if he were not in the team on Thursday, as Villa chase a first European final since 1982.
