Dark arts? We’re no villains at set-pieces, insists Emery

UNAI EMERY has defended Aston Villa’s tactics amid accusations of dark arts from Lille boss Paulo Fonseca.

Ahead of today’s europa Conference League quarter-final in France, Fonseca urged Slovak referee Ivan Kruzliak to look closely at Villa’s set-piece routines.

In last week’s first leg, which emery’s men won 2-1, Lille were furious when markers were blocked by Villa players, allowing Ollie Watkins a free header for the opener. ‘What I am seeing is not blocks — they are fouls,’ said Fonseca. ‘What I want is just a fair game. If it happens I hope the referee will pay attention to it. I know it’s difficult for referees to see everything but now we have VAR. I am trying to understand what is allowed and what is not allowed.’ Yet emery hit back strongly, confirming he has no plans to change his approach to free-kicks and corners at the Stade Mauroy. understands Villa have taken a dim view of what they believe to be Fonseca’s attempts to influence the officials ahead of the game. As well as Watkins’ goal, John McGinn’s strike for the second also began with a clever set-piece sequence and emery highlighted that all three goals in the first leg developed from dead-ball situations. He said: ‘Set-pieces are very important and I have been very successful with them throughout my career. They are crucial, 100 per cent. At Aston Villa I am working with a specialist in Austin MacPhee, sharing our experiences. In both the Premier League and europe, it’s very important — all three goals in the first leg came from them.’