According to reports, after the UEFA Champions League quarter-final where Aston Villa won 3-2 against Paris Saint-Germain but failed to advance, reporter Monica Marchante asked Luis Enrique about Unai Emery.

Marchante said: “You just hugged Unai Emery. I think he deserves some words of praise for Aston Villa’s performance, reaching this stage and being just one goal away from extra time.”

Luis Enrique’s unexpected reply sparked controversy on social media: “Well, I think I also deserve praise, just like Unai Emery and all the Spanish coaches worldwide who are trying to push forward our ideas. I respect everyone from here on. What matters to us is competing at our best and presenting our vision of football. In this regard, both Unai and all Spanish coaches working globally are striving to realize our ideas.”

Juanma Castaño, the show’s host, reacted to Enrique’s answer: “Either Luis Enrique misunderstood Marchante’s question, or this response is truly astonishing.”

When asked if he would watch the Real Madrid vs. Arsenal second leg, where Real must overturn a 3-0 deficit, Enrique said: “I’ll prepare a quiet dinner at home and see who our next opponent will be—an English or Spanish team. If it’s English, it will be the third English team we face in the Champions League this season, and if it’s Spanish, I know them well.”