Morgan Rogers reacts to Andre Onana’s ‘amazing’ Aston Villa message after controversy
Amadou Onana said Aston Villa’s season will “take a while to settle” after they missed out on Champions League qualification.
Controversy reigned at Old Trafford on the Premier League’s final day as Villa lost 2-0 to Manchester United, and saw their Champions League hopes go up in smoke as they missed out on goal difference.
Newcastle’s loss to Everton at St. James’ Park opened the door for Unai Emery’s side, but they were prevented from capitalising after Morgan Rogers‘ adjudged foul on Altay Bayindir saw his goal ruled out.
Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett told Football Insider that referee Thomas Bramall “guessed” at the deicison to penalise Rogers for a foul on the Man United goalkeeper, rather than allow VAR to intervene.
Barely three minutes later, Amad Diallo’s header instead put United 1-0 up to turn the game on its head, and Christian Eriksen’s late penalty consigned Villa to a 2-0 loss which sees them finish in sixth place.
Onana reacts to Aston Villa controversy
Onana’s debut season at Villa Park has been afflicted by injuries, but the Belgian has still made an impact at the base of Emery’s midfield with five goals across 34 appearances in domestic and European competition.
Withdrawn in the 63rd minute and before the controversial incident which engulfed Villa’s loss at Old Trafford, Onana was powerless to prevent their slip outside the Champions League places on 25 May.
Since then, Onana has posted on Instagram (27 May) with a message for Villa’s fans, and in a post under which Rogers commented a ‘love heart’ emoji, the 23-year-old reflected on his maiden campaign.
Onana said: “It’s bittersweet and it’s gonna take a while to settle. Nevertheless, I’m so grateful for the journey and there are many positives that we can build on.
“Villans thank you so much for welcoming me the way you did, I’ll never take it for granted; home and away you’ve always been amazing.”
Aston Villa set for PSR storm after Champions League miss
Rogers’ disallowed goal at Old Trafford could have huge ramifications for Emery’s side this summer, as Hackett told Football Insider that Villa’s entire season has gone “down the pan” as a result of Bramall’s error.
The Lions were already set to fly close to the sun in terms of the Premier League’s PSR rules, as they did last season, and Villa now face a “time bomb” if they’re to avoid breaches and penalties in the future.
Players sales to are therefore expected despite Villa being set for regular Thursday night action, and in a cruelly ironic twist, £100million-rated Rogers could be the player sacrificed as Manchester City and Chelsea circle.