Mings’ silliness results in a penalty, Unai Emery calls it the biggest mistake he has ever seen

Jakarta, Beritasatu.com – Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings’ silliness in the match against Club Brugge in the Champions League, which resulted in a penalty, was called by coach Unai Emery the biggest mistake he had ever seen in his career.

Mings apparently thought the ball wasn’t in play yet. He stepped forward to take goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez’s shot with his left hand and returned it to place it in the corner of the penalty box.

Villa previously won its first three games without conceding a goal in the club’s first appearance in the elite competition since becoming champions 41 years ago.

“The mistake was really strange. It was the biggest mistake I have ever seen in my career,” said Emery.

“That only happened once in my life. Today,” said the coach from Spain.

A similar incident occurred in the Champions League last season, but penalty kicks were not awarded at that time. In the quarter-finals, Arsenal defender Gabriel was not penalized for receiving a short pass from goalkeeper David Raya in the first leg against Bayern Munich.

Then-Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel later criticized the referee saying he would not have given a penalty for “a child’s mistake.”

The difference in the Villa incident was that the ball went forward out of the box with Martínez appearing to deliberately restart play early in the second half. Mings apparently thought the ball wasn’t in play yet.

Brugge captain Hans Vanaken converted a penalty in the 52nd minute to give Brugge a 1-0 lead, placing the ball to Martínez’s left as the World Cup-winning Argentina goalkeeper dived to his right.

Martínez tried to convince German referee Tobias Stieler after the match that he had made a mistake.

Villa surprisingly became leaders of the 36-team Champions League standings and temporarily dropped to fifth before hosting Juventus in three weeks’ time.

Brugge have six points from two wins and two losses, and are in 20th place.