Featured Image Credit: TikTok/@mu54_
Topics: Unai Emery, Villarreal, Southampton
Marcus Chan
Footage has emerged showing Unai Emery’s brutal response to a fan request after Villarreal’s friendly match against Southampton on Saturday.
The former Arsenal manager was back in England as he took his side to the St Mary’s stadium to face Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Saints.
Thanks to goals from Yeremy Pino and Gerard Moreno, the La Liga side came out 2-1 winners. Southampton’s new signing from Rangers, Joe Aribo was the scorer for the hosts.
After the match, Emery was seen posing for pictures and signing autographs for fans waiting outside the stadium. But then things turned sour. You can watch the footage below.
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One fan asked Emery to say ‘Good ebening’, which was in reference to his time in charge of Arsenal.
During his reign as Gunners boss, Emery often began each interview or press conference with the phrase ‘Good evening’, but due to his accent it sounded as he was saying ‘Good ebening’. As a result, he often found himself as the subject of trolling on social media.
However, despite winning the match, Emery was in no mood to entertain this individual’s request.
In the video, the fan was heard asking: “Can you say ‘Good ebening?” Whilst another said: “I think you done very good at Arsenal…”
Emery was irked and savagely responded by putting his middle finger up at the camera.
Since the footage went viral, many fans have taken Emery’s side.
One fan said: “Good on him. He isn’t your monkey to do a trick. No respect at all. I couldn’t imagine doing that to someone my age let alone someone 20 years my senior.”
Another tweeted: “Nah I’ve not seen a middle finger put up with so much distain in a long time.”
A third added: “He meant that from all his heart. good on him taunting him and disrespecting him all these years.”
The 50-year-old’s time at Arsenal was seen as a failure but he has since rebuilt his reputation in his native, Spain.
He took Villarreal to Europa League glory in 2021 after beating Manchester United in the final on penalties.
Last season, his side sent shockwaves across the football world as they dumped out European football giants Bayern Munich and Juventus on their way to the Champions League semi final, they eventually lost to Liverpool after a valiant effort.
Emery will be hoping for more success in the new season, his side will kick off their league campaign against Valladolid on August 13.